Bangladesh measles toll crosses 700 as 4 children die in a day

Another 869 people have sought hospital care with suspected symptoms over the past day

Bangladesh’s combined death toll from confirmed measles and suspected cases has risen to 702 after four more children died with measles symptoms over the last 24 hours.

Another 107 people tested positive for measles during the same period.

In its regular measles bulletin on Friday, the Directorate General of Health Services said 93 people have died of confirmed measles since Mar 15, while 609 others died after showing suspected symptoms.

Among the suspected deaths, Dhaka has recorded the highest number at 263, followed by Rajshahi with 88, Sylhet 77, Mymensingh 56, Chattogram 51, Barishal 39, Khulna 27 and Rangpur eight.

The health directorate said 869 people sought treatment with symptoms in the latest 24-hour count, with 786 requiring admission at hospitals across the country.

Of those admitted, 279 were in Dhaka Division, 185 in Chattogram, 121 in Barishal, 64 in Sylhet, 45 in Khulna, 42 in Rajshahi, 39 in Mymensingh and 11 in Rangpur.

The latest figures bring the total number of measles hospitalisations nationwide to 81,283, though 77,613 patients have been discharged.

The aggregate number of suspected cases stands at 97,522 while confirmed infections have reached 11,549.