11 children die of measles in Naushki

Medical teams reach affected areas and children are being given jabs, says DHO

QUETTA: A deadly outbreak of measles in one of the poorest districts of Balochistan has sent alarm bells ringing in the provincial health department, with the officials concerned rushing to contain the damage before it spreads to other parts of the province.

Eleven children have died from the contagious infection during the past three days in Qadirabad area of Naushki district, while 40 are reportedly hospitalised – despite it being preventable with a vaccine.

Confirming the deaths, District Health Officer Naushki Dr Hameed Baloch said, “Medical teams have reached the measles-hit areas and children are being given anti-measles jab to stop the disease from spreading further.”

The deceased children have been identified as Asma, Gul Rehman, Saeed, Muhammad Ikhlas, Zikriya, Izzat Shah, Raziya, Asadullah, Idrees, Jalil Ahmed and Jahan Ziya.



“We visited the houses where deaths have been reported and asked the family members to show vaccination cards. [It was emerged] that a majority of the households had refused to allow the jab for their children,” said the DHO.

“People live in the area often visit neighbouring Afghanistan to meet their relatives without giving their children anti-measles vaccine,” Dr Baloch said, adding, “They also do not cooperate with the government officials running anti-measles campaigns.”

A new campaign has now been announced in the area following the outbreak of the disease, according to the doctor.

The WHO recommends that 95 per cent of two-year-olds are given the jab to contain any outbreaks, being one of the leading causes of death among young children globally.

Health officials believe many parents avoid getting their children vaccinated due to social and religious issues.