In response to the health crisis, all educational institutions in the affected area have been shut down indefinitely to curb the spread of the disease.
According to the KP Health Department, the outbreak was detected in Kunj Gharibabad area of Katlang.
District Health Officer Dr Muhammad Shoaib confirmed that medical teams were immediately dispatched to the locality to begin preventive and treatment measures.
He added that health workers have so far vaccinated more than 3,000 children in door-to-door campaigns.
Dr Shoaib emphasized that most of the affected children were those who had missed their routine immunization doses.
Following the emergence of the outbreak, five educational institutions, including a private school, were ordered to close until further notice.
Health teams have also launched awareness drives, urging parents to ensure timely vaccinations, maintain hygiene, and cooperate fully with medical workers.
Officials further advised families not to ignore any signs of illness among children and to seek immediate medical assistance in suspected cases. The outbreak, which surfaced a week ago, has already resulted in three deaths, with dozens of children still under observation.
Earlier, despite repeated appeals, no concrete steps were taken to contain the outbreak, which had already affected dozens of children in the area.
Residents expressed anger over what they termed the indifference of political representatives, saying that none of them had visited the affected area or initiated meaningful interventions.
They further lamented the lack of adequate healthcare facilities in the region, urging authorities to provide immediate medical support, preventive measures, and essential supplies to curb the spread of the disease.
