KARACHI: Measles ... has assumed epidemic proportions in the city. It has claimed 25 lives during the last two months. The increased mortality among the measles cases at the Epidemic Diseases Hospital was attributed to the severe complications developed by almost all the victims who were admitted to the hospital. Majority of the patients ... had developed laryngitis ... besides other complications as their treatment was delayed... .

Over 80 per cent of the patients brought to the Out-Patient’s Department of the Epidemic Diseases Hospital nowadays are the victims of measles, but only those with severe complications were admitted due to the shortage of accommodation. … The first case of measles was reported to the Epidemic Diseases Hospital on 28th December, 1970, and during the last eight weeks the hospital has admitted over 270 cases of measles — all those who had developed complications. … Over 80 per cent of the patients admitted to the E.D. Hospital were children below six years — mostly infants — while the victims included patients from all socio-economic groups. The case histories of those admitted revealed that the disease, which started from Nazimabad, has spread to all localities… .

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2021