Fatal disease: 9 die of diphtheria within a week

MIRANSHAH: At least nine children, including a student of FSc, have died of diphtheria over the last seven days in North Waziristan Agency. Others have been hospitalised due to the disease. Diphtheria has affected people. Locals have urged the FATA health department to take measures on an urgent basis to avoid an epidemic.  Diphtheria cases have been reported in Miranshah.

Out of 15 suspected patients, six children died in North Waziristan and nine other suspected cases were being treated in various agency and district hospitals.  Three deaths were confirmed from South Waziristan and five suspected cases were referred to a tertiary care hospital in Peshawar.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2016.