SHANGLA: Measles has taken lives of seven children in Kana Shahpur area of Shangla district during the last two days.

The area people said that lack of facilities at the local hospitals was main cause of the casualties.

They said that measles had claimed lives of seven children, while many others were hospitalised.

They said that measles could spread to other areas if preventive measures were not taken.

The people said that the district headquarters hospital was located far away from their area and local rural health center lacked the treatment facilities.

Noor Rehman, a resident of Kana Shapur, said that ages of the children who died during the last two days were between seven months and four years.

He said that the people had informed the health department, but it failed to respond to the emergency.

The deceased children were identified as Azmat Ali (2), Astoor Ali (7 months), Wajid Ali (3), Hidayatullah (4), Mohammad Ali (9 months), Wajiha Bibi (2), Farwaiza Bibi (1) and two and a half years old Abdur Rehman.

When contacted on Wednesday, district health officer Dr Shafiul Mulk confirmed the deaths from measles, but said that parents of the children did not take them to the nearest hospital.

He said that special medical teams had been sent to the area. He said that Kana was a rural area and anti-measles campaign was underway.

He said that hospitals in the affected area would be provided all the necessary medicines.