The Health Department has officially confirmed an additional 14 fatalities resulting from pneumonia in Punjab, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa experiencing a significant rise in cases amidst the prevailing intense cold weather.
As reported by Aaj News, the 14 deceased children fall within the age range of one month to four years. Among them, five were residents of Faisalabad, three from Sheikhupura, two from Pindi Bhattian, while Gujranwala and Mandi Bahauddin each reported one death.
While the province documented 12 pneumonia-related deaths on Wednesday, the seven-day data reveals a total of 86 deaths in Punjab, with 979 children currently undergoing treatment for the disease.
The health department’s records show that pneumonia has claimed the lives of 208 individuals in Punjab in the current year.
Simultaneously, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed a surge in pneumonia cases as temperatures drop. According to the health department’s report, the province has experienced a 47% increase in cases over the past three months, primarily affecting children under the age of 5.
The department’s last quarterly report for 2023 disclosed 6,219 pneumonia cases reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in October of the previous year. Following the recent spike, the number of affected children rose to 11,551 in December.
Over the last three months, Mardan reported 8,068 cases, Haripur 4,000 cases, Dir Lower 3,200 cases, and Peshawar 2,800 cases of children infected with pneumonia. Additionally, 2,700 children in Swabi, 1,000 in Charsadda, and 900 in Lakki Marwat were affected by pneumonia.
DG Health Shaukat Ali attributes the surge in pneumonia cases to the escalating cold weather. He advises parents to take precautions, ensuring that children are dressed warmly and kept indoors.
