Pneumonia continues to claim lives in Pakistan’s Punjab, recording the deaths of at least 244 children during the current month, according to ARY News.
Seven more youths have died of the disease in Punjab in the last 24 hours.
According to the Punjab Health Department, 942 new cases of pneumonia were recorded across the province in the last 24 hours, of which 212 new cases were recorded in Lahore.
Punjab has reported 244 deaths due to pneumonia this month, including 50 in Lahore alone.
Health officials blame the high rise in cases and fatalities in Punjab on the environmental pollution caused by smog during the winter season.
“Smog, which is common during winter months, significantly contributes to the rise in pneumonia cases,” health ministry officials said, according to ARY News.
Pneumonia is a lung disease that is often caused by viruses.
It can occur due to symptoms of a cold or flu and can range from mild to severe. Pneumonia is more common in children aged five years and younger.
Punjab health officials are aiming to tackle the rise in pneumonia cases, stressing the need for public awareness and preventive measures to contain the spread of the condition.
(Only the headline and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
First print: January 27, 2024 | 11:39 PM IST