Tragedy in Karachi: Over 100 Children Die Due to Lack of Diphtheria Vaccine.
A grave crisis has unfolded in Karachi, Pakistan, where more than 100 children have lost their lives to diphtheria, a preventable infectious disease. The primary cause behind this devastating loss is the unavailability of diphtheria anti-toxin (DAT), a crucial drug needed to treat the illness. This shortage has exacerbated the situation not only in Karachi but also across Sindh, making the outbreak far more dangerous.
Previous Year’s Tragedy and Escalating Crisis.
In 2023, the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital reported 140 cases of diphtheria, with 52 children succumbing to the disease. However, the situation has worsened this year, with over 100 children losing their lives to diphtheria. Infectious disease specialists warn that the anti-toxin drug, critical in treating the disease, is unavailable throughout Sindh. Treating just one child requires medication costing around 0.25 million Pakistani rupees (approximately ₹1.2 lakh).
Diphtheria: A Lethal but Preventable Disease.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diphtheria is a severe infection that affects the throat and respiratory system. It manifests as a sore throat, fever, swollen neck glands, and overall weakness. If untreated, diphtheria proves fatal in roughly 30% of cases, especially affecting young children who are more vulnerable to the disease.
Pakistan’s Struggle with Vaccination Coverage.
Diphtheria can be easily prevented through timely vaccination and booster doses, but Pakistan’s vaccination rates remain worryingly low. Muhammad Arif Khan, Director of the Expanded Immunization Program (EPI) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, emphasized that vaccination is the only way to halt the spread of diphtheria. However, the low immunization coverage, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, has hindered vaccination efforts and left children exposed to this fatal disease.
COVID-19’s Disruption of Routine Immunization.
The World Health Organization reports that only 84% of children globally received the recommended three doses of the diphtheria vaccine in 2023, leaving 16% either partially vaccinated or completely unvaccinated. This coverage varies drastically across regions, with the COVID-19 pandemic further disrupting routine vaccination services, increasing the risk of outbreaks like the one seen in Karachi.
The tragic loss of over 100 young lives underscores the urgent need to address vaccination shortages and ensure that essential medicines like DAT are readily available to prevent further fatalities.
