KARACHI: Experts urged improved routine vaccination coverage of measles to children in the country in order to avert further outbreaks across Pakistan.

Dr Anita Zaidi, Dr Syed Asad Ali and Dr Farheen Ali, in a session organised by Aga Khan University Hospital on Monday to discuss the recent outbreak of measles that is identified as a highly contagious viral illness with an attack rate of almost 100 per cent.

Dr Zaidi, chair, AKUH pediatrics department, said that measles caused by Rubeola virus can strike anybody who is not immune.

With specific reference to recent outbreak of measles in children, she recalled a study conducted in Karachi, where a large majority of parents were found to be ignorant that each child essentially requires two doses of anti-measles vaccines.

"Due to poor coverage rate, the case fatality rate can be as high as five per cent (1 in 20) and the most vulnerable are malnourished children. Pneumonia, diarrhea, and encephalitis are the most common complications that lead to death,” said Dr. Anita Zaidi.

In reply to a question, she said outbreaks occur when there is a cohort of susceptible children that are exposed to a case of measles.