Seven more children died with measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours leading up to 8:00 AM Saturday also pushing the country's combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles deaths to 1,019 this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
All seven latest deaths have been classified as suspected measles cases. With this, the total number of suspected measles deaths has reached 919 while confirmed measles deaths remain unchanged at 100.
During the same 24-hour period 816 new suspected measles cases were reported, raising the nationwide total to 170,638. Additionally 39 new laboratory-confirmed cases pushed the total confirmed infections to 20,006.
Since March 15, a total of 150,202 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country of whom 144,485 have since recovered, DGHS data shows.
Health officials continue to urge parents to ensure children receive timely measles vaccinations as the outbreak remains a serious public health concern nationwide.
