Pakhtunkhwa is grappling with a significant rise in typhoid cases, with more than 10,000 reported in the first seven months of the year. The Health Department has issued new directives to District Health Officers (DHOs), Medical Superintendents (MSs), and heads of teaching institutes to manage the escalating outbreak. A recent report highlights a concerning spike, with 2,708 typhoid cases recorded in July alone. Of these, 51 have been identified as Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) typhoid. Hospitals have been instructed to classify cases into typhoid fever, Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) typhoid, and XDR typhoid for more precise treatment. The Health Department warns that the disease is spread through contaminated food, milk, frozen fruits, spoiled vegetables, polluted water, and infected individuals. To combat the outbreak, the department has called for mandatory vaccinations for high-risk groups and increased public awareness on hygiene practices.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan