Agenzia Fides

Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - A violent outbreak of measles, recently recorded in the south of Pakistan, has killed 210 children. According to the World Health Organization, the province in question is Sindh, where three million children aged between nine months to ten years will be immediately vaccinated. In March, the World Health Organization and the Pakistani authorities had estimated an increase in infections. In October there was a second wave and so far 7,300 suspected cases have been examined. About 80% of children have not been vaccinated, plus a fifth of the children who died were malnourished. Local authorities also reported at least 300 deaths due to measles in 2012. In most cases, children have died from complications associated with the disease that is highly contagious, it weakens the immune system and can cause pandemics such as pneumonia, diarrhea, encephalitis. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 03/01/2013)