Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has ordered the provincial health department to depute a doctor to visit the measles-affected village of Chandroo Muhajir Tando Allahayar on a daily basis and implement emergency measures in the village and surrounding areas to contain the virus.
The CM issued these directives to Sindh Health Minister Rehan Baloch, who presented him with the first report on the alleged measles-related deaths in Tando Allahayar village on Sunday.
According to the report, a surveillance team visited the village where they investigated all the four suspected cases and collected blood samples. Patients were referred to Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences.
The Health Minister said that Tando Allahyar Civil Hospital reported to him on April 26, 2024, four suspected measles cases that were brought from Chandro Muhajri village in Lal Faqri Behrani area of UC Dingano Bozdar.
A total of three child deaths as a result of measles were reported from the village. Among the deceased were five-year-old Adil, son of Asif; five-year-old Adnan, son Asghar and eight-year-old Atif.
On 26 April 2024, a rapid response team, comprising a district health officer, an Expanded Immunization Program district contact person, a paediatrician, a health officer, a district immunization supervisor and a district vaccinator, visited the area where four suspected cases of measles were confirmed. along with three other deaths.
Among the deceased was seven-year-old Iqra, daughter of Ashraf, a resident of Iqbal Colony in Hyderabad’s Latifabad area. The child died on April 25 at home. The parents reported that the child had received two doses of the measles vaccine.
Another child who died of measles was Ashique, son of Ashraf, from Hyderabad’s Latifabad area. According to the parents, the child was also given two doses of vaccination against measles.
The third child who died of measles was identified as three-year-old Arman, son of Yameen, a resident of Chandro Muhajir village in Tando Allahyar. He died on April 26 at home. According to his parents, he received two doses of measles vaccination.
All three children died at their homes and were not taken to any hospital. Later, on April 27, a six-year-old child, Adnan, son of Asghar, died of measles on the way from LUMHS to Chandro Muhajir village.
The CM directed the health secretary to activate his vigilance teams and implement necessary precautionary measures in the affected areas in case of emergency. Shah also ordered the health department to find out the reason behind the measles outbreak.