Measles-like deaths climb to 960 as new cases surge

The country has recorded five additional deaths among patients exhibiting measles-like symptoms within the last 24 hours, pushing the total number of suspected and confirmed measles-related fatalities for the year to 960. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has classified these latest deaths as suspected measles fatalities.

This brings the cumulative count of suspected measles deaths to 861, while the number of confirmed measles deaths remains unchanged at 99. The DGHS also reported a significant influx of new cases, with 1,100 suspected measles cases identified in the same 24-hour period. This surge brings the nationwide total of suspected cases to 154,792.

In addition to suspected cases, 70 new laboratory-confirmed measles infections were recorded, increasing the total number of confirmed cases to 18,796. Since March 15 of this year, a substantial number of patients, totaling 135,473, have been admitted to hospitals across the country with suspected measles. Data from the DGHS indicates that the vast majority of these patients, 130,457, have since recovered.