Three more suspected measles deaths take toll to 918

Three more children died with measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours to 8am on Tuesday, bringing the country’s combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 918 this year.

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

The total number of suspected measles deaths has now reached 819, while confirmed measles deaths remain unchanged at 99.

A total of 1,002 new suspected measles cases were reported during the period, taking the cumulative number of suspected cases nationwide to 144,780.

Meanwhile, 59 new confirmed measles cases were recorded, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed infections to 17,989.

Since March 15 this year, a total of 126,289 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 121,880 have recovered, according to DGHS data.