PNN: As many as 1,695 suspected measles cases have been reported in Punjab during the first four weeks of 2026, with 330 confirmed through laboratory testing, according to a report submitted by the Director General Health Services to the Lahore High Court on Thursday.
Filed in response to a petition concerning deaths caused by measles, the report also revealed that 40 outbreak alerts have been issued across the province so far this year.
Providing a comparative overview, the DG Health informed the court that Punjab recorded 23,680 suspected measles cases in 2024, of which 6,747 were laboratory confirmed. In 2025, suspected cases stood at 19,913, while 4,000 were confirmed through lab testing.
On fatalities, the report noted that 16 deaths were recorded in 2024, compared to four in 2025.
In light of the current situation, health authorities have intensified monitoring and surveillance measures, with several high-level meetings held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary and the Provincial Health Minister to review the evolving situation.
Surveillance in affected districts has been accelerated, and stricter monitoring mechanisms have been directed at both district and hospital levels to curb the spread of the disease.
On February 16, the LHC summoned DG Health to appear in person on February 18 in a petition concerning deaths caused by measles and other diseases, after the health department failed to submit a report despite court orders.
Justice Awais Khalid heard the petition filed by the Judicial Activism Panel, which raised concerns over fatalities linked to outbreaks of measles and dengue in Punjab.
During the hearing, Advocate Azhar Siddique, representing the petitioner, argued that hundreds of people had lost their lives in recent outbreaks due to the absence of basic healthcare facilities in public hospitals.
He contended that many of these deaths could have been prevented if essential medical equipment, medicines and treatment facilities had been available.