Two more children die of measles in Lahore
Pakistan
The death toll of measles rose to 26 in Punjab – four in Lahore alone.
LAHORE (Dunya News) - Measles continues to take its toll on children in Punjab where hundreds of cases have been reported in the last few days.
Two children died of measles in Lahore during the last 24 hours (Tuesday), says health department. One child belonged to Lahore and another to Rahim Yar Khan.
The death toll of measles rose to 26 in Punjab – four in Lahore alone.
On Tuesday, as many as 151 new cases were reported in several parts of Punjab - 43 in Lahore, 21 in Gujranwala, 35 in Rahim Yar Khan and 47 in Vehari.
There are 3,389 confirmed cases in Punjab.
Doctors say one of the major causes of outbreak of measles is a lack of vaccination. A vaccinated children is less likely to contract the disease and even if he or she has it, it is not severe in intensity if the child is timely vaccinated.
What WHO says
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), measles is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus.
It spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. It can cause severe disease, complications, and even death.
Measles, the WHO says, can affect anyone but is most common in children. It infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body.
Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and a rash all over the body.
Being vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with measles or spreading it to other people. The vaccine is safe and helps your body fight off the virus.
