Diphtheria awareness grows: Experts, officials join forces to combat outbreak
IV Report KARACHI: A recent surge in diphtheria cases has sparked widespread concern across Sindh, particularly in Karachi, where the majority of cases have been reported. According to sources at the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital and the National Institute of Child Health, the facilities continue to receive suspected diphtheria cases. The Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) has emphasised the need for governmental action to prevent and treat the outbreak. "The situation demands an effective vaccination campaign, along with the provision of antitoxins through government channels across the country," said PIMA President Prof Dr Atif Hafeez Siddiqui. Dr Siddiqui attributed the outbreak to the ineffectiveness of the Expanded Programme of Immunisation (EPI) during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Many children missed their vaccinations during this period, making them vulnerable to the disease," he explained. Healthcare personnel have noted that most confirmed c...