KARACHI: Sindh has reported a serious rise in measles cases this year, with 53 children dying from complications linked to the disease. More than 2,000 infections have been recorded in the province so far.
Across Pakistan, the situation is also getting worse. Over 20,000 suspected measles cases have been reported this year, and more than 7,000 have been confirmed in laboratories. The total death toll nationwide has reached 96.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads easily through coughing, sneezing, or close contact with an infected person. It mainly affects children and often starts with fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and then a red skin rash.
In serious cases, it can lead to complications like pneumonia, brain swelling, and even death if not treated on time or if the child is not vaccinated.
Dr Shafi said Sindh has the highest number of deaths, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 24, Punjab with 15, and Balochistan with four. He warned that many cases could have been prevented with proper vaccination. He also said around 30% of parents are still not vaccinating their children.
Health experts have reminded parents that the first measles vaccine is given at nine months of age, while the second dose is given at 15 months. They added that early treatment is very important, especially for children under five, as measles can become severe quickly if not treated on time.
In the past, measles has caused major outbreaks in Pakistan and other countries, especially where vaccination coverage was low. Before regular immunization programs became common, thousands of children used to get infected every year, and many died from complications.
Even in recent years, outbreaks have returned in different regions when vaccination gaps increased, showing that the disease spreads quickly when immunity levels drop in the population.
