Dengue, measles claim 12 lives in 24 hours

Twelve people, including six dengue patients and six children with measles-like symptoms, died across Bangladesh in the 24 hours until 8:00 am on Tuesday, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Hospitals admitted 2,010 new dengue patients during the same 24-hour period, pushing total dengue hospitalisations this year to 140,909 and raising the annual death toll to 439. So far this year, 134,594 dengue patients have recovered and returned home after receiving hospital treatment.

Of the newly hospitalised dengue patients, Dhaka Division recorded 943 admissions, followed by Chattogram with 245, Khulna with 235, and Rajshahi and Barishal with 219 each. Rangpur logged 65 admissions, Mymensingh recorded 60, and Sylhet reported 24. Last year, dengue infected 102,861 people and claimed 413 lives nationwide.

Meanwhile, the DGHS classified the six latest child fatalities as suspected measles deaths, raising the combined tally of confirmed and suspected measles-related deaths to 1,263 this year. Total suspected measles deaths reached 1,158 while confirmed fatalities remained unchanged at 105.

Health authorities also recorded 1,318 new suspected measles cases and 82 confirmed infections in the 24-hour period, taking cumulative suspected cases to 232,823 and laboratory-confirmed infections to 24,073. Since 15 March this year, 207,428 patients with suspected measles have been hospitalised across the country, of whom 198,752 have recovered.

Sources: BSS, UNB