'Mystery disease' claims nine kids' lives in a month

11 others hospitalised with pneumonia symptoms

MUZAFFARGARH:

At least nine children have died and 11 others are in critical condition due to an illness that spread in a settlement near Muzaffargarh during the past month, prompting intervention by the district administration.

According to sources, the deaths occurred in Basti Pull Pir Ashab, near Pir Jahanian in Dinpur. The deceased children, aged between one-and-a-half and six years, reportedly developed swelling on the face and high fever before succumbing within two days.

They included Dilshan, 6, Saghir, 4, Inam, 3, Rehan, 1, Zain Ali, 6, Najid Ali, 4, Sajida, 3, Saqlain, 2 and one-and-a-half-year-old Afshan. Three of the deaths were reported during last three days, casing fear among tesidents.

Upon receiving information about the matter, Muzaffargath Deputy Commissioner (DC) Usman Tahir Jappa directed health authorities to respond promptly. Health department teams led by the deputy district health officer along with staff from the district headquarters hospital reached the affected area.

The teams compiled medical record of the deceased children and examined the affected minors.

The 11 critically ill children were shifted to the DHQ hospital, while others were being provided treatment in the locality.

Health department sources stated that preliminary findings had indicated a viral form of pneumonia as the cause of most deaths, adding that the remaining ailing children had also been diagnosed with pneumonia.