Health department officials in Khairpur, allaying public anxiety, have clarified that the contagious skin disease causing several children’s deaths is “skin layer viral infection” and not monkeypox, and have denied claims of recent further deaths.
Addressing a press conference today, District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. Barkat Ali Kanhar stated that seven children in January and one in March died from the disease. He termed recent reports of more deaths as “baseless” and accused certain elements of spreading false rumors to create unnecessary fear.
Dr. Kanhar assured the public that the situation is “completely under control”. In view of the outbreak, two dedicated isolation wards, one at PMC Hospital Khairpur and the other at GIMS Hospital, have been established to provide special treatment to the affected children.
To improve surveillance and manage treatment across the region, monitoring committees have been formed in all eight talukas of Khairpur. Comprising senior medical professionals, these committees will be headed by the respective Assistant Commissioners.
The DHO urged families to adopt precautionary measures, advising that if children under five contract the infection, adults should also exercise caution. He appealed to parents to isolate any child showing symptoms and maintain high standards of hygiene to prevent further spread.
Dr. Kanhar concluded by announcing that the health department is providing all patients suffering from the viral skin disease with completely free medical assistance.