WHO delivers 500 vials of diphtheria antitoxin to Sindh hospitals

KARACHI: The World Health Organization (WHO) has provided 500 vials of diphtheria antitoxin to the Sindh Health Department in response to a significant rise in diphtheria cases and fatalities in the province.
According to the Sindh Health Department, the antitoxin will be delivered to the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital in Karachi. Additionally, the health department plans to procure more antitoxin using its own resources.
Health officials attribute the alarming surge in diphtheria cases to very low vaccination rates.
In light of the situation, patients suffering from diphtheria are being transferred to the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital from across Sindh. Other major hospitals in the province have also been instructed to allocate beds and wards specifically for treating diphtheria cases.
Officials report that several children and adults have succumbed to diphtheria in various cities throughout Sindh, including Karachi, this year.