Measles, a highly contagious virus preventable by vaccination, has recently surged, affecting thousands and claiming at least 150 children’s lives this year in the province.
Data from the health department reports 132 child fatalities this year, with over 13,000 suspected and 6,670 confirmed cases. Notably, Karachi reported only three deaths.
The province experienced 149 measles outbreaks this year, 18 of which occurred in Karachi. Dadu reported the highest number, 21, followed by Tharparkar with 20 and Khairpur with 10.
Between November 1 and December 14, the province saw 350 suspected and 155 confirmed measles cases. During this period, 749,670 children received vaccinations against the disease.
Health experts indicate a rise in measles cases in the city with the winter onset, following a brief decrease. They anticipate further increases in the coming weeks.
“In recent weeks, we’ve seen a spike in measles cases. Currently, ten children are hospitalized with the disease,” stated a senior doctor at the government-run Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital & Research Centre (SIDHRC). The doctor added that many children arrive with severe complications, suggesting delayed medical attention.
Some patients at the hospital are not responding to treatment, likely due to malnutrition.
Hospital data reveals that vaccine-preventable diseases, diphtheria and measles, caused 65 child deaths this year.
So far, 829 children have been admitted with measles or diphtheria.
Officials from Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi and the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) have not provided data on measles cases.
They note that measles recurrences follow seasonal patterns, exacerbated by reduced natural ventilation during winter when people stay indoors.
Measles — a highly contagious but vaccine-preventable viral infection — is rearing its ugly head again after affecting thousands of children and killing at least 150 children this year in Sindh, it has emerged.https://t.co/DBd0xCTRFQ
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 31, 2024International studies show a strong correlation between building ventilation and the spread of infectious diseases like measles.
“This year, measles cases have reached unprecedented levels,” said Dr. Ved Vaswani from Burhani Hospital and Al-Mustafa Medical Centre. He noted that measles resurfaced in children under nine months, including vaccinated children.
Dr. Khalid Shafi of the Pakistan Paediatric Association blames the high rate of child mortality and morbidity from vaccine-preventable diseases on parental neglect.
“The majority of children affected by diseases like polio, diphtheria, or measles are unvaccinated, posing a continual risk,” he said. He lamented parents’ failure to utilize free vaccines provided by the EPI program against 12 major diseases.
Dr. Muhammad Naeem, director of the EPI program, noted that many affected children missed vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic. He detailed increased efforts in surveillance and accessibility to immunization services, marking the first time real-time data is available to the public.
