Bangladesh logs 7 more deaths from suspected measles cases as toll tops 850

Seven more people have died with measles symptoms in Bangladesh in the past 24 hours, taking the number of such deaths since Mar 15 to 851.

Four of the latest deaths were reported in Dhaka Division, two in Barishal and one in Sylhet, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Another 73 people tested positive for measles over the same period.

Separately, 99 people who had laboratory-confirmed measles have died since Mar 15, according to the government figures.

Dhaka Division has recorded the highest number of deaths among people with measles symptoms, with 380 fatalities so far.

Sylhet follows with 143 deaths, while Rajshahi has reported 92, Mymensingh 74, Chattogram 64, Barishal 51, Khulna 33 and Rangpur 14.

The DGHS said 1,098 people with measles symptoms sought treatment at hospitals across the country in the latest 24-hour period, with 1,019 of them admitted.

Of the new admissions, 314 were in Chattogram, 310 in Dhaka, 126 in Sylhet, 120 in Barishal, 66 in Khulna, 54 in Mymensingh, 16 in Rajshahi and 13 in Rangpur.

A total of 133,573 patients with measles symptoms have been admitted to hospitals since Mar 15, while 128,765 have been discharged after treatment.

The number of suspected measles cases has reached 152,736, while 18,651 cases have been confirmed.