Lahore: The measles epidemic in Punjab is spiraling out of control, with the death toll reaching 28 as two more children have succumbed to the disease, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
. The health department reports over 11,000 suspected cases, with 3,400 confirmed patients, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 3,460. Just yesterday, 300 new suspected cases were reported across the province, including 49 from Lahore, 10 from Gujranwala, 26 from Vehari, 27 from Sheikhupura, and 33 from Faisalabad.
As per a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report, Pakistan is among the ten countries most affected by the measles epidemic globally. Between July and December of last year, over 7,000 people in the country contracted the disease.
Medical experts warn that symptoms of measles include red rashes on the body, fever, cough, and cold. However, many parents mistakenly believe these symptoms to be chickenpox and do not seek timely medical treatment for their children, exacerbating the spread and severity of the outbreak.