KARACHI, April 24: The Sindh health department has asked its senior officials in three districts to keep vigil on the proceedings in neighbouring Punjab regarding a measles outbreak, which killed around 60 children under the age of five.

Sources in the health department said a letter had been sent to the district health officials of Ghotki, Sukkur and Shikarpur asking them to remain alert on possible transfer of the epidemic in Sindh and go for a ‘mop up exercise’ to protect their districts from re-emergence of the disease.

Measles killed at least 82 children since January.

“The directive to the districts bordering or close to Punjab is a part of precautionary measures to discourage inter-provincial transfer of the disease,” said an official.—Staff Reporter