Measles strikes again: Fourteen cases reported in two days

Around 510 cases reported in Pindi district since Jan.

RAWALPINDI:

The menace of measles continues to haunt children in the Rawalpindi district as Holy Family Hospital (HFH) and District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) reported a total of 14 fresh cases over the past two days, increasing fears the disease is turning into an epidemic.

Despite hospital sources confirming that six to 10 cases are being reported daily, district health department officials have termed the situation as normal.

When contacted, District Health Officer Dr Khalid Randhawa claimed that only 12 cases had been reported over the same period.

Since January this year, around 510 measles cases have been reported across major hospitals including Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), DHQ and HFH, which has reported 295 cases alone.

“Doctors say around seven cases are being reported daily,  but the health department says the situation is under control; I find this ironic,” said Muhammad Ayaz, father of a measles patient. Ayaz called on the health department to launch a vaccination drive across the district.



HFH spokesperson Dr Javed Hayat said parents should be held responsible if their children did not complete the required immunisation course. “Children should be given their first MMR vaccine at 12 to 15 months while the second dose should be given 4 weeks later,” he said.

The number of cases reported at BBH could not be confirmed as the hospital’s Medical Superintendent Dr Asif Qadir Mir refused to share the details when contacted.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 22^nd, 2013.