Measles strikes again: Six new cases reported at Holy Family Hospital

Parents urged to immunise their children against infectious diseases.

RAWALPINDI: Rawalpindi continues to be plagued by measles as six more cases have been reported at Holy Family Hospital (HFH) in the last 24 hours.

One-year-olds Muniba and Aleeza from Zia Colony and Car Chowk, Dhoke Chaudhrian, Rawalpindi respectively and eight-month-old Falaq from New Shakriyal, Islamabad, are currently undergoing treatment at HFH. The other three patients, from Islamabad, Attock and Rawalpindi respectively, have not been identified.

HFH Spokesperson Dr Javed Hayat said that all six patients were in stable condition. He urged parents to ensure that their children were fully immunised against infectious diseases and added that neglecting early warnings could lead to serious complications.



The disease, which broke out in Punjab, has become fairly widespread as six to 10 affected children are reportedly being taken into the three teaching hospitals — HFH, Benazir Bhutto Hospital and District Headquarters Hospital — on a daily basis.

Despite a surge in the number of cases, District Health Department officials have termed the situation normal and under control.

Thus far in 2013, 516 measles cases have been reported in the three teaching hospitals of which 295 were reported by HFH alone.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2013.