Possible endemic: Measles outbreak threatens malnourished children of Sindh

Two children have died reportedly after being affected by the virus in the past few days.

KARACHI: The outbreak of measles in different villages of Thatta and Sajawal district has presented another challenge for the provincial health authorities after the Tharparkar crisis. At least two children have died in Thatta district and several others have reportedly been diagnosed with the viral disease over the last few days.

“Two deaths have been reported from Thatta,” confirmed the provincial health secretary, Iqbal Hussain Durrani. He said that the situation was under control and that all children of the province would be vaccinated soon.

Durrani told The Express Tribune that the affected areas of Thatta district were a priority and that his department would act promptly as 200 children had died last year.

Though health officials are still not sure whether both the boys from UC Sonda died because of measles, they believe the symptoms were indicative of the viral disease and that it could affect other healthy children.

The first child was reported to be affected by the virus on March 7, and died on the way to the district hospital. The second child was referred from the district hospital to Karachi but died at the National Institute of Child Health last week.

“Laboratory tests will confirm the cause of death,” said the district health officer, Dr Zahoor Ahmed Memon. “Unusual cases could be reported anywhere. There is no measles outbreak in my district,” he said.

A majority of pregnant women are anaemic in coastal areas, including Thatta, Sajawal and Badin districts, because of poverty. Their children, meanwhile, are severely malnourished. Health officials say that resistance to the viral disease among children is weak due to malnourishment.

Vaccinations are being started from Monday in Thatta and Sajawal districts. The first phase, which will run from April 7 to April 13, will target children of three talukas, including Thatta, Sajawal and Jati. The second phase will run from April 14 to April 20 in the remaining parts of Thatta and Sajawal districts.

The government will aim to vaccinate 414,545 children in both districts. Dr Memon said out of 55 UCs, seven have already been covered. Children above nine months and below 11 years of age will be targeted.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2014.