Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) data recorded six additional pediatric fatalities attributed to measles and compatible presentations through 8 am Monday, elevating national combined confirmed and suspected mortality to 1,063 for the year, with all six latest deaths classified as suspected, bringing cumulative suspected fatalities to 962 alongside 101 confirmed deaths.

During the same twenty-four-hour window, clinicians logged 1,221 new suspected cases—raising national cumulative suspected morbidity to 181,035—and eighty-four confirmed infections, pushing laboratory-verified totals to 20,646. Hospital admissions for suspected measles since March 15 reach 159,804 nationwide, with 153,448 patients discharged post-recovery.

Announcing the initiative during Sunday's secretariat press briefing, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain stated that a specialized nationwide immunization drive targeting thirty-four lakh children aged six to fifty-nine months runs from September 26 through October 31.

Recounting prior coverage, the minister noted that an April-to-May-20 campaign backed by UNICEF, Gavi, and the World Health Organisation reached 102 to 104 percent of its 1.8-crore target, whereas a subsequent vitamin A outreach covering 2.23 crore minors identified roughly forty-3 lakh children who missed the earlier immunization phase, which combined with ten lakh newly eligible infants aged six months over the past quarter establishes the thirty-four-lakh target.