KHYBER: More than twenty children have measles in Isagi and Nalay Kelly, Ghunda Khel, Loy-Shelman, remote and border areas of Tehsil Landi Kotal of Khyber district.
Residents of the area reported that the disease virus had spread in the atmosphere and that infants in every second house were affected.
The areas lacked basic health facilities and being a poor segment of society, residents demanded the Ministry of Health to control the deadly disease and provide health security to infants.
According to the local vaccinator, children were routinely vaccinated under the Expanded Program on Immunization and almost all children were given the vaccine against the disease.
Providing information about measles Dr. Khalid Javed said that it is a viral disease and fever, red eyes and formation of red blisters on the body are preliminary symptoms of measles.
After the initial symptoms appeared, the illness persisted for three days and then turned to recover, he believed.
He further said that the deadly disease virus can survive for 28 days in the air and can affect weak and unvaccinated children.
He warned not to apply home remedies on your child, but after contracting the virus, contact the nearest doctor and give the patient soft food and more fluids.
Prevention of the disease is more important than treatment, and he said parents should give their children a two-dose measles vaccine at nine and fifteen months of age, respectively, he ordered.
When the district hygienist Dr. was contacted in this matter. Zafar, said that teams of health officials have been sent to vaccinate the remaining children against the disease and will also take all necessary initiatives to ensure the health of the children.
