Deaths from measles, measles symptoms cross 1,200

The number of deaths from measles and measles symptoms in the country has risen to 1,201. Of these, 1,097 people have died with measles symptoms. And 104 people have died after measles was detected in sample tests.

This information was given in a bulletin published by the Directorate General of Health Services on Monday. It said that five more people have died with measles symptoms in the previous 24 hours till 8am on Monday.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, the highest number of deaths with measles symptoms has occurred in Dhaka division. 493 people have died in this division. After that 193 have died in Sylhet division, 101 in Chattogram, 93 in Rajshahi, 84 in Mymensingh, 65 in Barishal, 51 in Khulna and 17 in Rangpur.

In the last 24 hours 1,307 people with measles symptoms came to hospitals across the country. Of them 1,179 have been admitted to hospitals. In the same period measles has been detected in the bodies of 35 people in sample tests.

Among the newly admitted patients the highest 451 are from Dhaka division. Besides, 276 have been admitted to hospitals in Chattogram, 132 in Sylhet, 120 in Barishal, 73 in Khulna, 69 in Mymensingh, 44 in Rajshahi and 14 in Rangpur.

The Directorate General of Health Services has been keeping account of patients coming to hospitals with measles and measles symptoms and deaths since March 15. From that time till now 214,551 people have gone to hospitals with measles symptoms. Of them 190,663 have been admitted to hospitals and received treatment. 183,042 have recovered and returned home.

However samples of all patients coming to hospitals or all suspects outside hospitals are not tested. As a result it is not possible to determine the actual spread of the disease and the total number of infected people in the country from the number of measles detections in tests.