Crisis swelling: In Sindh and Punjab, 10 more die of measles

Suspected cases of infection amongst children who have already been inoculated.

GUJRANWALA/ SUKKUR/ QUETTA/ ISLAMABAD/ HYDERABAD:

Despite an ongoing measles vaccination drive across Sindh, eight more children died due to the epidemic in different parts of the province, whereas two children in Alipur sub-district of Muzaffargarh also lost their lives — bringing the day’s death toll to 10.

Meanwhile, medical authorities from the federal capital informed The Express Tribune that suspected cases of measles, in children who have already been inoculated against the disease, emerged in the twin cities.

Casualties

In taluka Thull of Jacobabad district, six-year-old Mohammad Umer Khoso of Hazar Khan Khoso village and two-year-old Abdul Rauf Banglani of Bilawal Banglani village died due to the disease. Two children also expired in taluqa Madeji of district Shikarpur. At least four more children died across Hyderabad and Badin districts. One-month-old Fozia Rind passed away in Civil Hospital Hyderabad. In Badin, three-year-old Jeewat Kohli, two-year-old Altaf Chang and four-month-old Haresh expired.Four-year-old Naeem Halepoto also died in Ramzan Halepoto village in taluka Halani of Naushehro Feroze.

Two children also passed away in sub district Alipur of district Muzaffargarh.

Virus spreads to Punjab

The virus entered Gujranwala, where reports on Saturday suggested that approximately a dozen children have been affected and are admitted in private hospitals.

Parents said that they initially took their children to the Civil Hospital, however, since all the doctors were on strike; they had to shift to private hospitals. Approximately 25 children, in one month have been affected by measles in different areas of DG Khan. DG Khan Health Executive District Officer Dr Mushtaq Rasool told Daily Express that the disease was carried by people who travelled recently from the virus-affected areas of Sindh.

The emergence of suspected cases of children with measles, who have already been vaccinated against the disease, has become a cause of concern in the federal capital.

Since January 1, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) has received seven suspected measles cases from various localities of the twin cities, out of which some of the children had already been vaccinated.

WHO vaccination drive

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched an anti-measles campaign in southern Sindh. The organisation says it will target approximately 2.9 million children in eight different districts of Sindh.

A seven-day measles vaccination campaign, started by the provincial government, also continued across Balochistan.

Selective vaccination

Complaints pouring in from towns and villages adjoining taluqa Mirpur Mathelo in Ghotki district, allege that despite ongoing vaccination drives, not all of the children in the area were administered the medicine, as medics complain of a “shortage of vaccines”.

(With additional input from APP)

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2013.