CHARSADDA: Three schoolchildren have died of diphtheria in Shabara area of the Charsadda district during this week.

The spread of the disease has caused concern among the residents, and prompted the health department to send different teams to carry out vaccination and screening tests of children in the area.

Those who died were identified as Haris Khan, a grade one student, Saadullah, a kindergartener, and Abdullah, a grade three student.

District health officer Dr Farhad Jan and district education officer Dr Abdul Malik visited the primary school in Shabara area, where three students fell victim to the disease.

They ordered that the school would remain closed until all the children were vaccinated.

DHO Dr Jan told the media said 10 teams had been sent to the area, which had so far vaccinated and screened 2,400 children, and provided medicines to them.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2023