Pneumonia claims 296 lives in Punjab in first month of 2024

Pakistan's largest province, Punjab, is grappling with a severe pneumonia outbreak, claiming the lives of 296 people in the first month of 2024. 

According to the provincial health department, eight more children succumbed to the disease during the last 24 hours in the province.

Over the past 24 hours, 792 new cases of pneumonia surfaced across the province, with 191 cases reported in the capital city, Lahore.

In the last eight days, as per the health department's data, 100 children have fallen victim to this perilous illness across the province.

Punjab recorded almost 18,040 cases, while Lahore has witnessed 57 deaths and 3,342 cases in one month of the new year.

Pneumonia, an infection causing inflammation in the air sacs of the lungs, has manifested as a serious health concern.

Symptoms include cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and breathing difficulties, leading to severe consequences.

Health experts attribute the surge in pneumonia cases to the smog resulting from heightened air pollution during this winter in Punjab.