LAHORE: The Punjab has reported 1,695 suspected measles cases during the first four weeks of 2026, according to a report submitted by the DG Health Services Punjab to the Lahore High Court.
The report, filed in a case concerning deaths from measles, states that 330 patients have been laboratory-confirmed as measles cases so far this year. Additionally, 40 outbreak alerts have been issued across the province.
In 2024, Punjab recorded 23,680 suspected measles cases, of which 6,747 were laboratory-confirmed, resulting in 16 deaths. In 2025, 19,913 suspected cases were reported, with 4,000 confirmed and 4 deaths attributed to measles.
The DG Health Services noted that monitoring and surveillance systems have been strengthened in response to this year’s outbreak. Several meetings have been convened under the leadership of the Chief Secretary and the Health Minister, and instructions have been issued to improve district- and hospital-level monitoring and surveillance.
Last year, a measles vaccination campaign ran from November 17 to 29, 2025, providing free vaccines to children aged six months to five years across the province.
