The Centre has asked states to consider administering an additional dose of Measles vaccines to all children, between the age of 9 months to 5 years, in areas where the disease has surged.

A rising numbers of measles cases have been reported from Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala and Maharashtra.

Mumbai and some other districts in Maharashtra have reported a rapid rise in infections and the death toll due to Measles has risen to 12 in the state.

The Union Health Ministry has also decided to rush three high-level multi-disciplinary teams to Ranchi (Jharkhand), Ahmedabad (Gujarat) and Malappuram (Kerala) to take stock of the surge in cases of Measles, according to an official statement issued today

The 3-member teams will assist the State Health Authorities in instituting public health measures and facilitate operationalisation of requisite control and containment measures, the statement explained.