Health Minister Lt Gen W.A. Burki seems to be aware of the real situation, for he gave a very stern warning yesterday to the local health authorities that any let-up, laxity or inefficiency in controlling the epidemic would be severely dealt with.

He summoned KMC chief Brig Hamid Husain and other municipal officials, and asked them to launch a “full-blooded campaign for the immediate control of the epidemic”. He also asked the Ministry of Health to extend its fullest cooperation and assistance to the municipal authorities.

The disease yesterday claimed 11 lives at the Epidemic Diseases Hospital, and another 25 deaths were reported from many localities — Khadda, Nawabad, Kalri, Agra Taj Colony, Chakiwara, Rangiwara, Bihar Colony, Rexar Lines, Gul Mohammad Lane, Baghdadi, Kumharwara, Miranpir, Osmanabad and Soldier Bazar.

Grave-diggers at three city graveyards said the number of burials had enormously increased during the past eight to 10 weeks, and during the past fortnight they had to engage additional grave-diggers. Most of the dead, they said, were children.

The epidemic is taking the heaviest toll in slums and unclean areas. The answer, therefore, appears to be a concerted effort to keep these localities clean.

Search for smallpox contacts

LONDON: A worldwide search was under way yesterday for some 70 smallpox contacts who flew across the world on Christmas Day in the same aircraft as a smallpox victim. The victim, 24-year-old Ismat Khan of Pakistan, had flown from Karachi to London. His plane had a stopover in Rome, and he changed planes in Paris.—Agencies