MUZAFFARGARH:
At least nine children have died and 11 others are in critical condition due to a disease that spread in a settlement near Muzaffargarh over the past month, prompting the district administration to take action.
According to sources, the deaths occurred in Basti Pull Pir Ashab, near Pir Jahanian in Dinpur. The deceased children, aged between one-and-a-half and six years, reportedly developed facial swelling and high fever before succumbing within two days.
They included Dilshan, 6, Saghir, 4, Inam, 3, Rehan, 1, Zain Ali, 6, Najid Ali, 4, Sajida, 3, Saqlain, 2 and one-and-a-half-year-old Afshan. Three of the deaths were reported in the past three days, raising fears among residents.
After receiving information about the matter, Muzaffargath Deputy Commissioner (DC) Usman Tahir Jappa asked the health authorities to respond immediately. Health department teams led by the Deputy District Health Officer along with staff from the District Headquarters Hospital reached the affected area.
The teams collected the medical records of the deceased children and examined the affected minors.
The 11 critically ill children were moved to the DHQ hospital, while others received treatment on the spot.
Health Authority sources said preliminary results had indicated a viral form of pneumonia as the cause of most of the deaths, adding that the remaining sick children had also been diagnosed with pneumonia.
