Sharp rise in measles cases in Pakistan sparks health concerns

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Lower South Waziristan region has witnessed a sharp rise in measles cases during the current year, sparking public health concerns in the tribal district, local media reported on Monday.

As per the official data shared by the health department, more than 850 measles cases have so far been reported in Lower South Waziristan, with the most impacted areas being Wana, Toi Khulla, Birmal, and Shakai tehsils, Pakistan's leading daily Dawn reported. Health officials said that the increase in measles cases is due to low vaccination coverage and vaccine hesitancy among patients, especially in remote and mountainous areas of the district.

He stated, "Our surveillance teams found that most of the affected children were unvaccinated. In contrast, areas where the vaccination coverage was strong recorded very few cases." He said that vaccine refusal and community resistance were the major challenges faced by health workers.