Measles: 5 more die as suspected caseload tops 150,000

Five more people with measles symptoms have died in the past 24 hours, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). 

Three of them were recorded in the Dhaka Division, with the other two in the Sylhet and Chattogram divisions.

The number of suspected cases of the highly-contagious disease has also risen to 150,652.  

Since Mar 15, 839 people with measles symptoms have died nationwide, while measles was confirmed in 99 other deaths, according to the health directorate.

The DGHS bulletin on Sunday said 83 people tested positive for measles in the 24 hours until 8am on Monday.

Dhaka Division has recorded the highest number of deaths with measles symptoms at 372, followed by Sylhet with 141. Rajshahi recorded 92 deaths, Mymensingh 74, Chattogram 64, Barishal 49, Khulna 33, and Rangpur 14.

Over the past 24 hours, 1,149 people sought hospital care with measles symptoms, with 1,055 admitted.

Of the new admissions, 319 were in Dhaka Division, 31 in Rajshahi, nine in Sylhet, 307 in Chattogram, 154 in Barishal, 53 in Mymensingh, 73 in Khulna, and 20 in Rangpur.

With these admissions, the number of measles patients hospitalised nationwide has reached 131,609. Of them, 126,921 have been discharged after treatment, according to the DGHS.

A total of 18,487 cases have been confirmed, the DGHS said.