- Health officials confirm six deaths in a gypsy tribe
A measles outbreak has so far claimed lives of 10 children aged up to 12 years in a village populated by a gypsy community in Umerkot district, a private TV channel reported.
However, the health authorities have confirmed six deaths while dozens of other children are being treated to recover from the viral disease. Hailing from Sabhri Mitho Jogi village, the victims were identified as Ramchand, Lachmi Jogi, Pooja Jogi, Veeram Jogi, Padma Jogi and Devi Jogi, among four others.
“Six children are believed to have died to measles,” said Dr Karmoon Mal, the district health officer. He said that all the victims belonged to a gypsy tribe which often kept relocating. “Owing to their constant relocation, their children may not have been immunised,” he said.
However, the villagers said that no immunisation team had visited their village. They demanded an inquiry into the outbreak to fix responsibility on the officials for neglecting the village. On Monday, the health authorities set up a medical camp in the village where the children were diagnosed and immunised.
