At least four more children died of measles here on Thursday. The death toll now has risen to 29 in the city and its surroundings during the last 40 days.
In Madaiji area two children, Zaheer Ahmed and Abdul Rehman, died of the disease.
Two minor girls, Shumaila, 3, and Rehana also fell prey to measles. The campaign of anti-measles vaccination will last till January 15 during which children will be vaccinated against measles. In this regard, special camps have been set up at basic health centres and dispensaries.
Karachi EDO Dr Imdadullah said during the campaign 2.1 million children will be vaccinated in the city for which 534 teams have been posted in camps while 694 teams will work in outskirt areas of the city.
Measles is caused by the measles virus, a single-stranded, negative-sense enveloped RNA virus of the genus Morbillivirus within the family Paramyxoviridae. Humans are the natural hosts of the virus; no animal reservoirs are known to exist. This highly contagious virus is spread by coughing and sneezing via close personal contact or direct contact with secretions.
Ibad orders effective steps
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan expressed concern over measles outbreaks in various districts of Sindh province and emphasised on immediate effective steps to contain the disease. Presiding over a high-level meeting at Governor’s House to review the steps of controlling measles, he expressed dissatisfaction on the performance of EPI about routine vaccination. He asked for district-wise sampling all over the provinces to found the actual causes of the disease. He said this disease may cause TB and other diseases. He said joint efforts were needed to remove its causes including acute malnutrition in children of rural areas in Sindh. Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed informed about the steps being taken by his department to contain measles. The meeting was informed that last year different districts of the province reported cases of measles; however, the diseases increased in the month of December mainly in Ghotki, Sukkur, Khairpur, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Larkana, and Kambar-Shahdadkot districts. In the year 2012, measles coverage rate was 81 percent. Measles causes deaths due to secondary infections of pneumonia and diarrhea. According to WHO in the year 2012, 7,274 measles cases were reported which resulted in 1212. In the month of December 2012, as many as 1879 cases and 93 deaths were reported. However, Sindh health department reported that in December 2012, 2125 cases of measles were reported in Sindh causing 100 deaths.