As the Minister took the drastic step, information was received that the disease had claimed another eight lives in the Epidemic Diseases Hospital, bringing the toll, according to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) figures, to 222, and 195 patients, including 25 new admissions, are now lying in the overcrowded small hospital.

The entire population of the city will be vaccinated under the new order within one week. Col S.M. Salim of the Army Medical Corps has been put in overall command of the operation, which is designed to combat and completely eradicate the epidemic.

He will be assisted by about 100 Army medical personnel and an equal number of civil medical staff. A mobile Army medical unit will launch the campaign today.

Soon after assuming charge of the operations, the colonel summoned KMC Health Department officers and Army Medical Corps personnel, and chalked out a comprehensive programme.

Ayub writes to Kennedy WASHINGTON: Two letters from President Ayub Khan for US President John F. Kennedy were delivered to the State Department yesterday by Ambassador Aziz Ahmad, who said he was “only the postman” and could not comment on their contents. — Agencies