10 more die of measles, symptoms

Deaths from measles and measles-like symptoms continue to rise, with the country recording 10 more deaths in 24 hours till 8:00am yesterday, taking the total death toll to 555.

Of the 10 deaths, one was a confirmed measles case while the rest died with measles-like symptoms, according to the Directorate General of Health Services.

Of the total deaths, 88 were recorded as confirmed measles deaths while 467 people died with measles-like symptoms.

During the same period, authorities recorded 53 confirmed measles cases and 1,083 suspected cases. With the latest figures, confirmed measles cases rose to 8,772 and suspected cases to 66,023.

In 24 hours, 945 patients with measles-like symptoms were admitted to hospitals, while 1,181 were discharged.

The rise in measles cases and deaths continued even after the preliminary deadline for the one-and-a-half-month special measles-rubella vaccination campaign ended on May 20.

The DGHS recorded more than 1,000 cases daily this month except on three days, May 9, 16 and 23.

However, DGHS officials said the infection rate was easing, thanks to the vaccination drive, which covered 1.84 crore children aged from six months to under five years.

The authorities continued the drive as some children still remained outside the coverage.

Both DGHS officials and health experts, however, said deaths may continue for several more days as around 4,000 children have already been admitted to hospitals with measles-like symptoms.

Although the number of measles cases began rising at the start of the year, infections surged sharply from March.

The DGHS started publishing measles data on April 2, compiling figures from March 15 onward.

According to DGHS data, of the total death toll of 555, 276 were recorded till April 30, while 279 deaths occurred in the first 26 days of May.