SHIKARPUR: Four more children including an infant died of measles in Shikarpur district of Sindh on Saturday, taking the death toll to 12 during the past two months in the district.
The latest victims include nine-month-old Uzma Khoso, three-year-old Nasser, Waqar, and Shahida. The outbreak has been exacerbated by the non-vaccination of children.
Since January 2024, over 180 children showing symptoms similar to measles have been admitted to the civil hospital in Shikarpur. The situation has raised serious concerns among health officials and the local community.
Civil Surgeon Dr. Amjad Mastoi confirmed the fatalities, emphasizing that an intensive anti-measles vaccination campaign is currently underway across Shikarpur district. Dr. Mastoi said that in the last four months alone, 397 cases of measles have been reported, mostly from Tehsils Juhi, Khairour Nathan Shan, and Maher.
“In response to the outbreak, medical camps have been set up in affected areas, and efforts to immunize children are being intensified throughout the district,” Dr. Mastoi stated.
Earlier in May, two children succumbed to measles in Dadu district, bringing the death toll there to 25 within the past four months. Dr. Mastoi highlighted ongoing efforts in Dadu, where vaccination drives are aiming to mitigate further infections and fatalities.
Meanwhile, in district Sujawal, measles claimed the lives of four children, including an infant and a minor girl. The victims, identified as two-month-old Ahmed, Gul Muhammad (4), three-year-old Anila, and Azizullah, hailed from a Tehsil in district Sujawal.
