ISLAMABAD:
A joint mission of the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and World Health Organisation (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) will be arriving in Pakistan on February 12 to analyse the recent outbreak of measles in the country.
According to official sources, a team of four members will visit the provinces from where a massive outbreak of the disease was reported.
The team will then share its findings and recommendations with all the relevant departments and ministries at a high level meeting on February 15 in Islamabad.
According to the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin – Disease Early Warning System (DEWS) and response in Pakistan, issued by WHO, this year from January 20 to 26, there were 15 outbreaks reported from across the country with a total of 743 measles cases and 25 deaths in 53 districts.
However in the month of January alone, a total number of 3,196 cases of measles were reported and of those cases, 131 children died.
While talking to The Express Tribune, DEWS Senior Surveillance Officer at WHO, Dr Musa Rahim, said the joint mission will help Pakistan control the current measles outbreak.
He added that over the last few weeks, a decrease has been witnessed in the number of measles cases reported, especially from Sindh.
Rahim added that satisfactory routine immunization coverage is the only solution to curb the spread of disease.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2013.
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