Measles-like deaths reach 983

Four children died with measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours to 8am Tuesday, taking the country’s combined number of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 983 this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

The DGHS classified all four latest deaths as suspected measles fatalities, taking the total number of suspected deaths to 884. Confirmed measles deaths remain at 99.

During the same 24-hour period, 1,034 new suspected measles cases were reported, bringing the nationwide total to 160,184.

The number of laboratory-confirmed cases also rose by 63 to 19,447.

Since March 15, a total of 140,472 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, with 135,417 recovering, according to DGHS data.