2 more deaths from measles symptoms, 61 confirmed cases

Two more people have died with suspected measles symptoms and another 61 new cases have been confirmed in Bangladesh in the past 24 hours.

According to a bulletin issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Thursday, both of the deaths were recorded in the Chattogram Division.

The DGHS has been publishing measles-related data since Mar 15.

According to government figures, 100 people have so far died after being diagnosed with measles, while another 946 have died with suspected symptoms of the illness.

That brings the combined death toll over nearly six months to 1,046.

Dhaka Division has recorded the highest number of deaths with suspected measles symptoms, at 425, followed by Sylhet with 165.

Among the other deaths, 93 were recorded in Rajshahi, 77 in Mymensingh, 73 in Chattogram, 59 in Barishal, 40 in Khulna, and 14 in Rangpur.

The health directorate said another 1,282 people with suspected measles symptoms sought treatment at hospitals across the country in the past 24 hours. Of them, 1,182 were admitted.

The new admissions included 407 in the Dhaka Division, 286 in Chattogram, 157 in Sylhet, 110 in Barishal, 94 in Khulna, 64 in Mymensingh, 36 in Rajshahi and 28 in Rangpur.

The total number of hospital admissions across the country has now reached 155,602. Of those patients, 149,540 have been discharged.

The number of suspected measles cases nationwide has reached 176,480, while 20,343 cases have been confirmed.

The DGHS said that not all patients who visit hospitals or those who remain outside hospitals are tested for measles. As a result, the exact number of people infected with measles cannot be determined.

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