Possible measles outbreak: Child reportedly dies, 40 other cases suspected
DC cannot confirm outbreak; health officials say cause of death to be investigated
DC cannot confirm outbreak; health officials say cause of death to be investigated. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
Even though two massive campaigns have been carried out against measles in Tank, a child has reportedly died of the disease; 40 others are suspected to have been infected. According to officials, 12 samples of 40 suspected measles cases were collected and sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad for testing.
The district management seems to be in the dark over the possibility of an outbreak which infected children in 16 union councils of the district. Deputy Commissioner Habib Wazir said he was unaware of the situation. “I don’t know anything about the cases nor have I read anything about measles in the newspapers,” he told The Express Tribune.
Officials at the district health department said the surge in cases clearly demonstrated that the campaign in which 98,000 children were vaccinated in 2014 was not up to the mark. “If five cases are reported from an area, it is an outbreak. Here, we have over 40 suspected cases and the district management is silent,” a senior health official said.
Looking for vaccines
Requesting anonymity, the official who works at the Tank district health office also confirmed cases were reported from 16 different UCs and the number of patients was likely to increase by April.
The official said a child thalassemia patient reportedly died from measles at the Christian Hospital in Gul Imam UC, but the department was yet to confirm his demise due to the disease. “We have contacted the federal government and teams have arrived in the district. Vaccines have also been demanded from Islamabad,” the official said. He added 350 children were administered vaccines against measles recently.
Focal person at the district’s polio control room, Tahir Zaman, stated a campaign was carried out in Tank in June 2015. Zaman denied that the recent death of a child in Gul Imam UC was caused by measles. He also said a death certificate has been demanded from the hospital.
Tank DHO Tahir Javed could not be reached for an official version despite repeated attempts. When contacted, Tank Additional Assistant Commissioner Yousaf Karim said samples were taken from around 12 cases and sent to the NIH.
He added the administration was also in contact with the hospital to determine the cause of death of the child with thalassemia. “We will see his history and then be able to give a version,” Karim told The Express Tribune. He said a campaign against measles was under way in all UCs of the district.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2016.
Even though two massive campaigns have been carried out against measles in Tank, a child has reportedly died of the disease; 40 others are suspected to have been infected. According to officials, 12 samples of 40 suspected measles cases were collected and sent to the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad for testing.
The district management seems to be in the dark over the possibility of an outbreak which infected children in 16 union councils of the district. Deputy Commissioner Habib Wazir said he was unaware of the situation. “I don’t know anything about the cases nor have I read anything about measles in the newspapers,” he told The Express Tribune.
Officials at the district health department said the surge in cases clearly demonstrated that the campaign in which 98,000 children were vaccinated in 2014 was not up to the mark. “If five cases are reported from an area, it is an outbreak. Here, we have over 40 suspected cases and the district management is silent,” a senior health official said.
Looking for vaccines
Requesting anonymity, the official who works at the Tank district health office also confirmed cases were reported from 16 different UCs and the number of patients was likely to increase by April.
The official said a child thalassemia patient reportedly died from measles at the Christian Hospital in Gul Imam UC, but the department was yet to confirm his demise due to the disease. “We have contacted the federal government and teams have arrived in the district. Vaccines have also been demanded from Islamabad,” the official said. He added 350 children were administered vaccines against measles recently.
Focal person at the district’s polio control room, Tahir Zaman, stated a campaign was carried out in Tank in June 2015. Zaman denied that the recent death of a child in Gul Imam UC was caused by measles. He also said a death certificate has been demanded from the hospital.
Tank DHO Tahir Javed could not be reached for an official version despite repeated attempts. When contacted, Tank Additional Assistant Commissioner Yousaf Karim said samples were taken from around 12 cases and sent to the NIH.
He added the administration was also in contact with the hospital to determine the cause of death of the child with thalassemia. “We will see his history and then be able to give a version,” Karim told The Express Tribune. He said a campaign against measles was under way in all UCs of the district.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2016.