Karachi: Pakistan is witnessing a sharp resurgence of measles, with at least 71 children dying over the past four months and more than 16,000 suspected cases reported during the first 15 weeks of 2026, as gaps in routine immunisation, high test positivity and delayed care continue to fuel the spread of the highly contagious disease.
Official data compiled up to mid April shows that a total of 16,683 suspected measles cases have been reported nationwide, of which 13,615 samples were collected and 4,541 cases were laboratory confirmed. The overall test positivity rate stands at around 29 percent, indicating widespread circulation of the virus across multiple regions.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported the highest number of confirmed cases at 1,712, followed by Punjab with 1,198 cases and Sindh with 1,183 cases. Although the number of confirmed infections is lower in other regions, the positivity rates remain alarmingly high, suggesting under detection and continued transmission.
Balochistan has reported 197 confirmed cases with a positivity rate of 43 percent, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 151 cases with 36 percent positivity, Gilgit Baltistan 45 cases with 44 percent positivity, while Islamabad has recorded 55 confirmed cases with the highest positivity rate of 51 percent.
Punjab accounts for the largest share of suspected cases at 6,176, representing 37 percent of the national burden, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with around 5,178 suspected cases, or 31 percent, and Sindh with 4,115 suspected cases, accounting for 25 percent. Balochistan, AJK, Gilgit Baltistan and Islamabad together contribute a smaller proportion of suspected infections but remain vulnerable due to limited surveillance and access to healthcare.
Despite reporting fewer confirmed cases than Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, Sindh has recorded the highest number of deaths, with 40 children succumbing to measles in recent months, accounting for more than half of the nationwide fatalities. Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have each reported 12 deaths, while Balochistan has confirmed four fatalities.
Infectious disease experts say the rising death toll reflects not only the intensity of transmission but also delays in diagnosis and treatment, as well as low immunisation coverage in several districts.
Measles, caused by a highly infectious virus, spreads rapidly among unvaccinated children and can lead to severe complications, particularly pneumonia, which remains the leading cause of measles related deaths.
“Measles is entirely preventable through vaccination, yet we are seeing avoidable deaths because children are either not vaccinated or brought late for treatment,” said paediatrician Dr Khalid Shafi, adding that a marked increase in cases has been observed since February.
According to medical experts, early symptoms include high fever, body aches and a red rash that spreads across the body, often accompanied by vomiting and diarrhoea. If not managed promptly, the infection can progress to life threatening complications, especially in malnourished children or those with weakened immunity.
Public health specialists attribute the current surge to gaps in routine immunisation, vaccine hesitancy among parents and inconsistent outreach during past vaccination campaigns. They warn that repeated door to door drives have failed to achieve full coverage in several areas, leaving a large pool of susceptible children.
Experts have called for urgent nationwide efforts to strengthen routine immunisation, improve surveillance and laboratory testing, and enhance public awareness to ensure early diagnosis and timely treatment. They caution that without immediate corrective measures, the outbreak could intensify further in the coming weeks, putting more children at risk.
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