Six die with suspected measles infections

Health authorities recorded six more deaths linked to measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours until 8:00am on Saturday.

With the latest fatalities, the total number of measles-related deaths since mid-March has risen to 708. Of them, 93 have been laboratory-confirmed, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

During the reporting period, the DGHS also recorded 744 suspected and 45 confirmed measles cases.

The cumulative number of suspected measles infections has reached 98,266, while confirmed cases have climbed to 11,594 since mid-March, the DGHS said.

To contain the nationwide outbreak, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched an emergency measles-rubella vaccination campaign on April 5, targeting children aged between six months and five years.

The government said more than 18.47 million children have been vaccinated since the campaign began, adding that the immunisation drive will continue.

According to physicians, measles is a highly contagious viral disease that affects people of all ages and remains one of the leading causes of death among young children worldwide.

Although the disease is usually mild to moderately severe, it can cause serious complications, including pneumonia, diarrhoea, secondary ear infections, encephalitis (brain inflammation), blindness and death.

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