The victims are reported to be in the age group of 2 months to 5 years and belong to Mahasemra village of Sisriya development block. They have been identified as Naan Bacchi (2 months), Siyaram (2 years), Punam (2 years), Budhani (2 years) and Sohrab (5 years).

The Health department, however, has acknowledged only four deaths due to measles. Talking to The Indian Express, Chief Medical Officer of Shrawasti Dr Surendra Kumar Maharaj said: “Five deaths have been reported to us due to suspected measles. Our team of doctors has

visited Mahasemra village and we are assuming that

four children died of measles. But the fifth case of a five-year-old boy was a natural death caused due to a respiratory disorder.”

Accepting the outbreak of measles in the rural areas of Shrawasti district, Dr S K Varma, the centre superintendent of Sisiriya community health centre, said: “After these deaths were reported to us, we conducted a medical examination on about 300 children in the district. About three dozen children were found to be affected.”