PESHAWAR: Health authorities in FATA have officially declared an outbreak of measles in Bar Qamber Khail area Tehsil Bara of Khyber Agency after completion of investigation over growing number of cases of the disease and the death of a patient in Hayatabad Medical Complex.
According to a press release issued here on Monday, Director Health Services (DHS) FATA Dr. Jawad Habib Khan had called for outbreak investigation and assigned assessment team on August 6th 2016, in response to media reports of measles cases in Qayum Khel Village of Bar Qamber Khail, Tehsil Bara, Khyber Agency.
Assistant Director EPI Dr. Ikhtiar Ali was assigned to coordinate for and facilitate the investigation process whereas Agency Surgeon Dr. Niaz Muhammad, N-Stop Dr. Wazir Akbar, FSMO Dr. Zarin Khan, TCSP WHO Bara Mr. Noor Shah, TCSP UNICEF, Area Incharges, UCPWs and EPI technicians visited the affected areas and conducted routine investigations on two patients admitted at HMC.
On the basis of findings of investigation team, measles outbreak has been declared in Bar Qamber Khail and case response was launched on August 7th, 2016,adds the press release.
Investigation team found index (origin) case, his twin sister and first cousin in serious condition who were referred to tertiary care hospital in Peshawar. In addition, 8 more active measles cases were found during visits at the clinics of local practitioners.
Mass measles campaign was launched in 10 villages of Bar Qamber Khail with the support of 10 FATA health staff teams.
So far 1391 children, between the ages of 6 months to 10 years, have been vaccinated. Mosque announcements were made to inform parents in the area regarding outbreak and the vaccination process carried out at Basic Health Unit (BHU) Jan Baz.
According to health officials outbreak is under control and all preventive measures have been taken.
FATA DHS Dr. Jawad Habib Khan directed manager mobile health project FATA and Agency Surgeon Khyber to depute mobile health camps in affected areas to vaccinate children for routine EPI in addition to other health services package.
He further directed that mobile camps should be repeated in same areas as per EPI schedule in the upcoming months.
Earlier, all the relevant stakeholders including WHO, UNICEF and field staff were informed and surveillance site was established at BHU Jan Baz. – APP
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