DIR: The death toll of children from pneumonia and measles in Kohistan area of Upper Dir district increased from 25 to 47 as a team of health officials returned from the remote area on Monday. Executive District Officer (EDO Health) Dr Abdul Wakeel confirmed 47 deaths from the outbreaks that hit Thal, Kumrat and Lamoti areas of Dir Kohistan. He said the most of the areas were inaccessible due to snowfall. He feared the deaths could be more than what they had recorded. “We faced problems in ascertaining the exact number of the deaths caused by post-measles pneumonia due to snow that has covered the mountainous areas,” he said.
The disease could have been caused by severe cold weather in the area that is situated 105 kilometres away from Dir town, the district headquarters. He said the area had also been affected by measles.
The Health Department official said medical teams had been working in the area and were trying to control the situation. He said more than 1,500 children were being vaccinated against pneumonia and measles.
He said the Health Department had been working hard after it received information about outbreak of pneumonia and resultant deaths. Residents confirmed that mobile teams in Thal and Kumrat went door-to-door to vaccinate children and provide other necessary medicines to people.“The situation has improved after the health teams arrived in the area,” stated Jandul Khan, a resident of Thal.
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