Bangladesh's measles toll tops 800 as six more die in a day

Dhaka Division continues to record the highest number of deaths from the outbreak

The death toll from measles and suspected symptoms has surpassed 800 in Bangladesh, with six more fatalities registered in a day.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) bulletin on Wednesday said 133 more people tested positive for measles in the 24 hours from 8am Sunday.

The health authority has been releasing regular updates on the viral outbreak since Mar 15.

Confirmed measles deaths stand at 95, alongside 708 symptom-related fatalities, for a combined toll of 803.

Dhaka Division accounts for the highest number of suspected deaths at 307, followed by Sylhet with 105 fatalities.

The figures stand at 90 in Rajshahi, 56 in Chattogram, 43 in Barishal, 67 in Mymensingh, 31 in Khulna and 9 in Rangpur.

The DGHS said 904 more people with measles symptoms sought treatment at hospitals nationwide over the past 24 hours, of whom 834 were admitted.

Of those admitted, 288 were in Dhaka Division, 35 in Rajshahi, 71 in Sylhet, 213 in Chattogram, 116 in Barishal, 54 in Mymensingh, 51 in Khulna and 6 in Rangpur.

That brings the total number of measles patients admitted to hospitals nationwide to 103,078, of whom 99,294 have since been discharged.

The country's suspected measles caseload now stands at 120,352, while confirmed cases total 14,841.