TDS Desk:

Eight more people have died with suspected measles symptoms and another 81 new cases have been confirmed in Bangladesh in the past 24 hours.

According to a bulletin issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Wednesday, three people died in the Sylhet Division, two each in Dhaka and Barishal, and one in Khulna during that period.

The DGHS has been publishing measles-related data since Mar 15.

According to government figures, 100 people have so far died after being diagnosed with measles, while another 944 have died with suspected symptoms of the illness.

That brings the combined death toll over nearly six months to 1,044.

Dhaka Division has recorded the highest number of deaths with suspected measles symptoms, at 425, followed by Sylhet with 165.

Among the other deaths, 93 were recorded in Rajshahi, 77 in Mymensingh, 71 in Chattogram, 59 in Barishal, 40 in Khulna, and 14 in Rangpur.

The health directorate said another 1,239 people with suspected measles symptoms sought treatment at hospitals across the country in the past 24 hours. Of them, 1,141 were admitted.

The new admissions included 367 in the Dhaka Division, 271 in Chattogram, 193 in Sylhet, 108 in Barishal, 97 in Khulna, 63 in Mymensingh, 25 in Rajshahi and 17 in Rangpur.

The total number of hospital admissions across the country has now reached 154,420. Of those patients, 148,465 have been discharged.

The number of suspected measles cases nationwide has reached 175,198, while 20,282 cases have been confirmed.

The DGHS said that not all patients who visit hospitals or those who remain outside hospitals are tested for measles. As a result, the exact number of people infected with measles cannot be determined.