Death toll from measles, symptoms jumps to 409 as DGHS adds unrecorded deaths
The number of deaths from measles and measles-like symptoms saw a sharp rise today as health authorities adjusted previously unrecorded deaths, taking the total number of confirmed and suspected measles deaths to 409.
A total of 11 confirmed and suspected measles deaths were recorded in the 24 hours till 8:00am today. Besides, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) added 46 suspected deaths that were not recorded earlier, taking the overall tally to 409.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The directorate said it updated the figures following coordination with Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital and Rangpur Medical College Hospital, as well as the respective civil surgeon offices.
The Daily Star on Thursday ran a report exposing a mismatch between DGHS’s central data and its divisional data.
The report said the actual number of measles deaths is likely higher than the central tally, as data from two divisional offices of the health directorate show at least 34 more suspected deaths than reflected in official figures.
Till Wednesday, no suspected deaths were reported from Mymensingh division in the central DGHS data. However, figures from the office of the DGHS director for Mymensingh division showed 25 suspected deaths.
On the other hand, central data showed 11 suspected and five confirmed deaths in Barishal division, while divisional data indicated 22 suspected and three confirmed deaths since March.
Several other newspapers reported on this mismatch over the last two days.
Among the 11 new deaths recorded today, four were confirmed measles deaths and seven were suspected deaths.
With the four additional deaths, the total number of confirmed deaths rose to 65, while the seven suspected deaths took the total suspected measles deaths to 344, according to DGHS data.
Meanwhile, 205 confirmed cases were recorded today, taking the total confirmed cases to 6,819. In addition, 1,503 suspected cases were recorded during this period, bringing the total suspected cases to 49,159.
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