Counter measures: 31 new measles cases surface

Parents urged to ‘do their part’.

RAWALPINDI:

Contrary to the claims of the district health department, the battle to control measles is far from over in Rawalpindi as 31 new cases were reported on Saturday.

Fresh cases have taken the tally to 623 in the entire district with the majority reported in Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi (HFH) which has treated 330 patients of the disease to-date.

Talking to The Express Tribune, HFH spokesperson Dr Javed Hayat held parents responsible, saying they ignore doctors’ advice regarding the vaccination procedures. “Most of the children hit by the disease are either not properly vaccinated or yet to complete the inoculation course,” he complained. He said it is very easy to blame the health department or hospitals’ administration for the disease, but parents must also do their part if the disease is to be completely eradicated.

When contacted, District Health Officer Dr Khalid Randhawa said the measles virus swells with rise in temperature and feared a jump in the number of cases in June. He said the disease is still under control as only one patient has died so far since it broke out.

He said the health department is planning to launch a vaccination drive to control and subsequently end the disease once and for all.

He also urged parents to complete their children’s vaccination courses at the earliest to help in the effort.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2013.