Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 03, 2025 2 days, 4 hours, 11 minutes ago
Medical News: Measles Resurgence in Sindh - A Growing Crisis
The Sindh province of Pakistan is grappling with a severe measles outbreak, which has so far claimed 132 lives and affected over 6,000 individuals. Health authorities are overwhelmed as cases surge daily, with hospitals struggling to manage the influx of patients. Alarmingly, even healthcare workers are contracting the disease, raising concerns about the state’s capacity to contain the outbreak. Adding to the distress, experts speculate that a new genotype of the measles virus could be at play, intensifying its spread.
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132 Deaths and 6,000 Cases of Measles in Pakistan’s Sindh Province
With 149 outbreaks recorded across Sindh, this
Medical News report aims to shed light on the resurgence of this vaccine-preventable disease, which has primarily targeted vulnerable children. Official data confirms 132 deaths and 6,670 confirmed cases, alongside 13,000 suspected cases. Surprisingly, Karachi, the province’s largest city, has reported only three deaths. However, rural areas like Dadu and Tharparkar have seen a higher concentration of cases, with 21 and 20 outbreaks, respectively.
Challenges in Containment
The Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital and Research Centre (SIDHRC) has highlighted a troubling trend: delayed treatment. Many children arrive at the hospital with complications, reflecting a critical delay in seeking medical care. Furthermore, some patients, especially malnourished ones, are not responding well to treatment. Experts attribute these issues to poor nutrition and inadequate public awareness about the disease’s early symptoms.
“For the past two to three weeks, we’ve seen a significant rise in cases,” reported a senior doctor at SIDHRC. The hospital’s data indicates that, in addition to measles, 34 children succumbed to diphtheria this year - another preventable disease - underscoring the dire state of public health in the region. Private healthcare providers also report seeing four to five measles cases daily, further emphasizing the outbreak’s severity.
A Deadly Combination of Factors
Health experts link the resurgence to several factors, including poor ventilation during winter. People tend to close windows and doors to keep warm, creating an ideal environment for the virus to spread. Studies show a strong association between limited air circulation and the transmission of airborne diseases like measles, tuberculosis, and influenza. Additionally, overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions in low-income areas contribute significantly to the disease’s spread.
Senior pediatrician Dr. Ved Vaswani noted that measles cases this year have reached unprecedented levels. “The numbers are so high that calling them ‘high’ doesn’t do justice to the gravity of the situation,” he said. Alarmingly, measles is now being reported in children as you
ng as nine months, including those vaccinated. Dr. Vaswani attributes this to compromised health conditions and urges immediate public awareness campaigns.
Failure to Utilize Free Vaccines
Pakistan’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) offers free vaccines against 12 major diseases, including measles. Yet, a significant portion of the population remains unvaccinated. Dr. Khalid Shafi of the Pakistan Paediatric Association criticized parents for neglecting their children’s health rights. “The majority of children affected by measles, polio, and diphtheria are unvaccinated. This unprotected population is a persistent threat to the community,” he said.
Government officials acknowledge that many children missed their vaccine doses during the COVID-19 pandemic. EPI Director Dr. Muhammad Naeem explained that efforts have been ramped up to address this gap. “We are increasing surveillance and case response activities. Staff training and accessibility have improved, and a major initiative is underway to vaccinate children who missed their doses during the pandemic,” he said.
Human Rights Commission Sounds the Alarm
The Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has also raised concerns. Chairman Iqbal Ahmed Detho called for declaring the measles outbreak an epidemic. In a letter to the provincial health authorities, he urged the government to implement special measures under the Sindh Immunisation and Epidemics Control Act, 2023. “Thousands of children remain vulnerable to this entirely preventable disease. The situation demands urgent and prioritized action,” he stated.
The SHRC’s recommendations include intensified vaccination drives and awareness campaigns, especially in high-risk areas. It emphasized the importance of reaching union council levels to ensure maximum vaccine coverage. Despite these recommendations, the commission’s chairman noted a disturbing increase in cases and deaths, reflecting a slow response from authorities.
Looking Ahead: Preventing Future Outbreaks
As the measles crisis in Sindh continues to unfold, the focus must shift toward preventing such outbreaks in the future. This includes addressing vaccine hesitancy, improving public health infrastructure, and ensuring timely medical interventions. Experts stress the importance of educating parents about the significance of vaccination and recognizing early symptoms of the disease. Only through collective efforts can Pakistan hope to curb the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Conclusion
The measles outbreak in Sindh is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s healthcare system. With 132 lives lost and over 6,000 confirmed cases, the situation underscores the need for immediate action. While government efforts are underway, the real change lies in public awareness and proactive measures. Vaccination remains the most effective tool against measles, but its success hinges on public participation.
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Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/human-metapneumovirus-infections-on-the-rise-in-china
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/emerging-novel-lineages-of-human-metapneumovirus-in-china-mark-the-start-of-2025
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/online-media-claim-that-china-has-declared-a-health-emergency-and-that-hospitals-and-crematoriums-are-overflowing-is-it-true
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