In a devastating turn of events, the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is witnessing a surge in measles cases, leading to the tragic loss of 22 children. According to the health authorities, the outbreak of measles has emerged due to the lack of regular vaccination in the province.
The health department’s report confirms that 26 out of 1,616 children were diagnosed with measles in the previous year. Dera Ismail Khan has reported the highest number of cases, with 462 confirmed instances and 13 children losing their lives. Other affected areas include Charsadda (317 cases), Peshawar (226 cases), Bajaur (166 cases), and Mardan (161 cases). Moreover, Swabi (136 cases), Nowshera, Lakki Marwat, and Karak have reported a total of 171 affected children.
The health authorities emphasize that the measles outbreak is a direct consequence of the irregular vaccination practices in the province.