Diphtheria Claims Four Lives, Infects Dozen Others In NWA

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th August, 2016) : As many as four children have died and dozen others have been affected due to fresh viral infection of diphtheria disease in the different villages of North Waziristan Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). According to the locals of North Waziristan, who were recently returned to their homes in Tehsil Miranshah, Diphtheria disease was spread at Khuzai and Palangzai areas of NWA Tehsil Miranshah. According to authorities of DHQ Bannu, nine children admitted at Bannu hospital affected from diphtheria disease and several referred to Peshawar. Medical Superintendent DHQ Dr Habib Ullah said that special isolation ward has been established for the patients of North Waziristan and victims were being provided medicine from hospital. Officials at D.I.Khan confirmed that five children also died due to the said disease in South Waziristan Agency, where recently displaced people returned. Doctors at DHQ hospital Bannu ENT ward said that they have checked twenty four patients of said disease which were bring from Miranshah and other several admitted in ENT Ward. ENT Dr Iqbal said that special vaccine name ADS anti diphtherial serum and anti toxim needed which can protect the affected children. He said ADS vaccine was not available in the country, the lives of affected children could be saved if vaccination is available.

Doctors said anti Diphtherial vaccination needed and special teams should be attached in North Waziristan to do vaccination in the affected and adjacent areas, otherwise the disease will spread widely and will become more epidemic. Dr Iqbal said it is communicable disease which can transfer from one patient to other so patients or affected should keep in isolation. Another local Haji Rahmat said no vaccination team has visited their area, although the disease turns into an epidemic. When medical superintendent Miranshah hospital Dr Muhammad Rehman contacted, he said that they have launched vaccination at the affected areas and arranging free medical camp where four hundred patients have been checked and vaccinated seven hundred against the disease. He said still vaccination started but they have demanded from directorate health FATA to provide maximum vaccination and special vaccine ADS which needed for protection of the life of affected children. Dr Rehman also demanded from political administration to close schools and seminaries in the affected areas to avoid close constants of children from one another. People demanded that special teams should launch and provide basic health facilities in the affected areas where people returned after two and a half year of displacement.