The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) have announced to provide of anti-diphtheria serum.
The current outbreak of the fatal infectious disease has claimed at least 39 children and adolescents.
The UNICEF authorities have confirmed that they are coordinating with the government and local authorities to distribute anti-diphtheria serums, while WHO has also confirmed that efforts are being made.
According to pediatricians, the diphtheria outbreak was caused by the lack of pentavalent vaccination and anti-diphtheria serum.
Due to the worldwide elimination of diphtheria, the anti-diphtheria serum is created in extremely small quantities.
An official of the National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHS, R&C) stated, “Diphtheria is a vaccine-preventable, fatal bacterial infection, but every week dozens of diphtheria cases are reported from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan, and suspected diphtheria cases are also reported from Azad Jammu and Kashmir.”
Infectious disease specialists and pediatricians blame the federal and provincial immunization programs for the increase in cases and advocate for a complete revamp of the federal and provincial Expanded Programme on Immunisation immediately (EPI).
Diphtheria is a dangerous infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheria strains that produce toxins, according to doctors. It can cause breathing difficulties, cardiac rhythm issues, and even death. Pakistani children are vaccinated against five important illnesses, including diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenza type b. (DTP-help-Hib).
