THATTA: A severe measles outbreak has triggered widespread panic across the coastal belt of the Shahbunder taluka (sub-district) in Sujawal district, where five children have died within a week and more than 20 others are reportedly suffering from the highly contagious disease across various villages.

According to local sources, the outbreak has spread rapidly through several remote coastal settlements. Residents have complained of a critical lack of immediate medical facilities and a delayed response from the regional health authorities. Villagers reported that the condition of infected children deteriorated rapidly, forcing families to rush some of the patients to hospitals in Karachi and other nearby towns.

Among the deceased were Shazia, the daughter of Satoo Mallah, and two-year-old Iman, the son of Hussain, both from the Dargah Ibn Shah area. In Ward No. 6 of Chuhar Jamali, a one-year-old girl, the daughter of Syed Sabir Shah, died during treatment after being transferred to Karachi. Two other children — Fiza, the daughter of Ghulam Qadir Vlasio, and Riaz Ali, the son of Muhammad Hanif Vlasio — also lost their lives in Goth Haji Bashir Vlasio.

Local residents stated that more than 20 children from scattered villages across the coastal region are currently affected by the virus, raising grave fears of further transmission if urgent preventative measures are not implemented immediately.

The District Health Officer (DHO), Dr Hanif Memon, stated that health department teams had been dispatched to the affected areas to conduct an extensive survey, assess the ground situation, and evaluate the impact of the outbreak. He added that the medical teams were actively monitoring the infected children and taking the necessary preventative measures to contain the spread of the disease.

Meanwhile, local elders and residents have urgently appealed to the provincial health authorities to establish emergency medical camps, ensure comprehensive vaccination coverage, and immediately deploy medicines and healthcare staff to the affected villages to prevent further fatalities.

Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2026