Flood zone: Drives launched against measles, polio

EPI says infectious diseases likely to spread after calamities


Sehrish Wasif July 31, 2015
EPI says infectious diseases likely to spread after calamities. PHOTO: REUTERS

ISLAMABAD:


In the wake of rising fears about an epidemic of infectious diseases, provincial health departments have launched campaigns against polio and measles in the areas hit by the recent flash floods.


On the administrations’ request, the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) has dispatched ample quantities of measles and polio vaccines to the flood-affected parts of the country.

An EPI Punjab official told The Express Tribune that infectious diseases are likely to spread after any natural calamity, mostly because of massive displacement.

He said that even if one child were to contract measles, then he could infect many others in his surroundings, with his family at the highest risk.

“In emergency situations there are no proper hygiene and sanitation arrangements, as families live in congested tents and share one bed, blanket, pillow, towel or glass – putting themselves at risk of contracting infections from one other.”

The official said the current rate of routine immunisation coverage in Pakistan was close to 65 per cent, adding that it was below satisfactory level.

“Therefore, during natural disasters children who have not been vaccinated against infectious diseases could be a potential source of its spreading.”

However, he added, Pakistan has brought measles and polio cases under control this year through quality campaigns and, therefore, wants to sustain its efforts by taking pre-emptive measures during natural disasters, which is when they spread the most.

Meanwhile, according to official documents available with The Express Tribune, so far in Punjab 3,265 children have been vaccinated against polio and 2,113 against measles.

Dr Rana Safdar, in charge of the National Emergency Operation Cell for Polio Eradication, said all-out efforts were being made to vaccinate the people in Punjab and Sindh who have been affected and displaced by the floods.



He was of the view that there was no massive displacement in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. “However, measures have been taken in these areas as well.”

Weather updates

Based on the Pakistan Meteorological Department’s forecast, the National Disaster Management Authority has issued a fresh warning of glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) for G-B and Chitral.

A severe weather system is likely to persist in these areas for the next three to four days, with the potential to cause GLOFs.

Meanwhile, the water level at the Guddu Barrage has remained steady for the past 24 hours but, according to irrigation officials, hill torrents gushing down the Koh-e-Suleman range are constantly adding to the volume of the Indus River, which would cause the barrage’s water level to rise after another 24 hours.

They claimed that the protective bunds have been fortified and, therefore, the flood would pass through without causing any harm.

In Punjab, four policemen among 20 people were injured when residents of Omar Kot and Kot Mithan attempted to prevent the irrigation department officials from breaching the Jumah Arayin dyke.

Rajanpur DCO Zahoor Hussain said Jampur would be inundated if the dyke is not breached, adding that the officials were forced to leave the area and they would try to breach the dyke again on Friday (today).

Moreover, floodwater swept away the Super Gajani embankment at Shadan Lund in Dera Ghazi Khan, inundating thousands of acres of farm land.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31st, 2015. 

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