Punjab grapples with unabated pneumonia cases

LAHORE:

A pneumonia spurt in Punjab killed 13 more children during the past 24 hours, with 1,045 new cases confirmed across the province. According to the Punjab Health Department, the provincial capital registered 248 new cases on Wednesday. So far this year, 288 deaths and 17,248 cases were attributed to the deadly disease, with Lahore alone reporting 57 deaths and 3,151 cases.

The current surge in pneumonia-related deaths indicates a troubling trend, where over 85 children lost their lives during the past week.

Fourteen fatalities were reported on January 24th, 12 on January 25th, 13 on January 26th, 7 on January 27th, 18 on January 28th, 3 on January 29th and 14 on January 30th.

Health experts attribute the rise in pneumonia cases in Punjab to the prevalent winter season and air pollution, especially smog, which has been identified as a significant factor contributing to the spike in cases.

Read: Pneumonia death toll in Punjab crosses 250

Pneumonia, characterized by an infection in the lungs, is predominantly caused by viral infections and its symptoms can appear after experiencing a cold or flu. It can range from mild to severe, with young children, especially those under the age of five, being more susceptible to the disease.

The health department called for an urgent need for public awareness and preventive measures to curb the spread of the infection.

Earlier, Caretaker Provincial Health Minister Dr Javed Akram, told media that apart from the chilly weather, the major causes of pneumonia and deaths among kids include low rate of mother feeding and vaccination.

He said that scores of children die of the disease during the winter season each year, but this year, a ten per cent surge in the mortality rate has been witnessed due to worsening air quality.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2024.