Sindh reports 63 measles, 20 diphtheria and 5 tetanus deaths among children in eight months

KARACHI: A report on child deaths caused by measles, diphtheria and tetanus in Sindh over the first eight months of 2026 has been released.

According to the report, 3,123 confirmed measles cases and 53 outbreaks were recorded across the province. During the first eight months of the year, 63 children died from measles, 20 from diphtheria and five from tetanus.

A total of 3,123 confirmed measles cases, 57 diphtheria cases and 20 tetanus cases were reported. During the same period, 53 measles outbreaks were confirmed in 15 districts of Sindh.

According to data obtained from the Sindh Health Department and the World Health Organisation (WHO), 8,032 suspected measles cases were reported in the province between January 4 and August 8, 2026, of which 3,123 were confirmed.

Khairpur recorded the highest number of child deaths, followed by Dadu and Larkana, Karachi East, Sukkur and Thatta, Badin and Shikarpur, and Matiari.

Among the confirmed measles cases, 55% of children aged nine months or older had not received even a single dose of the measles vaccine.

The data also highlights the need for an independent assessment of claims by District Health Officers (DHOs) regarding 100% performance in measles vaccination campaigns.