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30 Paki quake survivors die of tetanus
The Daily News quoted a health official as saying that the deaths took place due to the shortage of the anti-tetanus globulin (ATG), a vaccine that is used to check the infectious disease among the injured. âWe canât do anything as we are getting the supply (of ATG) in limited numbers from the National Institute of Health (NIH),â said Dr. Shahzad Rehan, assistant medical superintendent of Rawalpindi General Hospital. He said 18 cases of tetanus - an acute infectious disease of the nervous system that occurs when wounds are contaminated - were reported in three hospitals of Rawalpindi where survivors of the earthquake were being treated. Five deaths of killer tetanus that cause severe muscular spasms and contractions have already reported. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed only 22 deaths and 111 patients infected with tetanus. âWe believe that around 3 per cent of total injured are infected with tetanus as wounds of many survivors remained in the dirt of debris for many days,â Sacha Bootsma told DPA. She also expressed concern over the supply of ATG to the affected area, saying âbecause of poor road links, the delivery of vaccine is a big challengeâ. Posted by: Steve White 2005-10-28 |
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