Mysterious illness claims lives of five children in Khyber

Two other children from the same family remain unconscious, being treated at HMC in Peshawar

KHYBER:

Five children from the same family died while two others fell unconscious after being struck by a mysterious illness in Qaziano Kalay, an area of Bazaar Zakha Khel tehsil in Khyber tribal district.

According to police, all seven children were being shifted to hospitals in Peshawar after losing consciousness. However, five of them died on the way, while the remaining two were admitted to Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC), where they are receiving medical treatment.

The affected children belong to the family of a man identified as Shah Ji. All five deceased children were reportedly under five years of age and included three girls and two boys.

Deputy Commissioner Khyber Shahid Ali said a special team of the district administration immediately shifted the affected children to Peshawar, where they were being provided with medical care. He said initial medical tests had returned clear results, but the actual cause of the illness remained unknown.

The two surviving children would remain hospitalised for further medical examinations and close monitoring to determine the nature and cause of the mysterious condition.

Medical experts at HMC are investigating the illness. On the deputy commissioner’s instructions, Assistant Commissioner Landi Kotal Inam Wazir visited the hospital and reviewed the children’s treatment, medical reports and facilities being provided to them.

Hospital staff briefed him on the situation. He said the district administration was taking all necessary measures to ensure the best possible medical care for the affected children and determine the cause of the tragedy.