Measles: Death toll hits 902 as 8 more die in 24 hrs

Eight children died with measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Saturday, bringing the country’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 902 this year.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has classified all eight latest fatalities as suspected measles deaths.

With this, the total number of suspected measles deaths has reached 803, while confirmed deaths from measles have remained the same at 99.

A total of 728 new suspected measles cases were reported during the 24-hour period, bringing the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 141,776

Meanwhile, 70 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 17,800.

Since March 15 this year, a total of 123,494 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 119,089 have recovered, according to DGHS data.