Measles outbreak hits Dera Ghazi Khan

Several children were infected in Nawan, Choti, Paigah and other areas.

DERA GHAZI KHAN: A fresh measles outbreak has occurred in Dera Ghazi Khan District, due to which hundreds of children have been affected by the virus. A number of children with measles were brought to government hospitals and private facilities in the district.

An official told The Express Tribune that the cases were reported from Nawan, Choti, Paigah and other areas. He added the affected children included 18-month-old Jameela Bibi, One-year-old Zain, eight-month-old Guriya Rani, Dilawar, Niaz, Obaidullah, Ismaeel, Dua, Fatima and others.

He said three cases were also reported from Tehsil Hospital, Taunsa. The current wave of measles outbreak has spread panic among the people, especially parents who are running from pillar-to-post to get their children vaccinated.



When contacted, Health Department Chief Executive Officer Dr Khalil Ahmed Khan told The Express Tribune, “We have dispatched three mobile teams to those areas where measle cases were reported.”

He maintained, “We have initiated a campaign against measles and are providing vaccination to the affected children.”

Ahmed pointed out that more than 100 children were vaccinated in Choti, 75 children were provided vaccination in Dera Ghazi Khan City while 70 children were vaccinated in Paigah.

He said, “The situation is under control and the campaign will continue till eradication of the disease.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2017.