Larkana Reports Decline in Measles Cases as Health Experts Call for Expanded Vaccination Coverage
Larkana: Measles cases at Chandka Medical College (CMC) Children’s Hospital have started showing a decline, with health professionals attributing the recent outbreak to low vaccination coverage, malnutrition, limited breastfeeding practices, and inadequate public awareness.
Prof Dr Shanti Lal, head of the hospital, said that 898 measles patients were admitted through emergency services at the Child Health Foundation (CHF) between March and May. After initial assessment, patients were transferred to hospital wards for further treatment.
According to hospital data, March and May recorded 304 cases each, while 290 cases were reported in April. The Outpatient Department (OPD) recorded an additional average of around 150 measles cases per month.
District health officials said a National Institute of Health (NIH) report confirmed measles cases from almost every union council in the region. Surveillance Officer Dr Mahek Unnar said patients had arrived from Larkana, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Mehar in Dadu, Qambar-Shahdadkot, and parts of Balochistan, with the highest number of cases reported from Qambar-Shahdadkot.
Dr Shanti Lal noted that around half of the children presenting at the OPD had received no measles vaccination, while the remaining children had incomplete vaccination doses. He stressed that comprehensive coverage under the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) could significantly reduce disease transmission.
Health professionals also highlighted the impact of severe malnutrition and other health complications among affected children. Two measles patients currently admitted to the nutrition ward were also diagnosed with HIV.
To manage critically ill patients, the Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN) has established a 10-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at CMC Children’s Hospital. Facility in-charge Imran Bhutto said the specialised unit has provided critical support for seriously ill children from across the region.
SICHN data showed that 183 measles cases were treated at the facility between April and June. Hospital sources said four critically ill children with HIV co-infection are currently receiving treatment.
Medical teams at both institutions said that although the outbreak peaked during April and May, cases began declining in June. They urged authorities to launch an intensive measles vaccination campaign similar to polio drives and increase awareness about the importance of breastfeeding and routine immunisation.
