Death toll from measles-like symptoms nears 700

Nine children died with measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours to 8:00am on Thursday, pushing the total number of deaths linked to the outbreak to 698 since mid-March, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The latest health bulletin also reported one dengue-related death during the same period, bringing the total number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease to 13 this year.
Of the total deaths linked to measles-like symptoms, 93 were laboratory-confirmed measles cases, the DGHS said.
Meanwhile, 893 new suspected measles infections and 52 confirmed cases were recorded during the reporting period.
The cumulative number of suspected measles infections has risen to 96,653, while confirmed cases have reached 11,442 since mid-March, according to the DGHS.
In response to the rapidly spreading 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 and that the immunisation drive will continue.
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 measles is generally a mild to moderately severe illness, it can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, diarrhoea, secondary ear infections, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), blindness and death.
Meanwhile, the DGHS reported one new dengue-related death in the past 24 hours, taking the total dengue death toll this year to 13.
The total number of dengue cases has reached 5,515 so far this year. Of the total, 198 new dengue patients were admitted to hospitals across the country during the reporting period.
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