The health department has confirmed 14 more deaths due to pneumonia in Punjab, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has recorded a notable surge in cases of the disease amid the intense wave of cold weather.

According to Aaj News, all 14 children are in the age group of one month to four years. Of these children, five belonged to Faisalabad, three from Sheikhupura, and two from Pindi Bhattian while Gujranwala and Mandi Bahauddin reported one death each.

The province reported 12 deaths from pneumonia on Wednesday. However, the seven-day statistics show 86 deaths in Punjab. Here 979 children are being treated for the disease.

According to the health department, pneumonia claimed 208 lives in Punjab in the ongoing year.

On the other hand, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been witnessing a surge in pneumonia cases as mercury declines.

KP’s health department’s report indicates that the province noted a 47% surge during three months and disease attacked the children in the age group below 5 years.

According to the last quarterly report of 2023 released by the department, 6219 cases of pneumonia were reported in October of last year in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Following the addition of new cases, the number of children affected by pneumonia increased to 11,551 in December.

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In the last three months, 8,068 children were infected with pneumonia in Mardan, 4,000 in Haripur, 3,200 in Dir Lower, and 2,800 in Peshawar.

According to the report, 2,700 children in Swabi, 1,000 in Charsadda, and 900 children were affected by pneumonia in Lakki Marwat over three months.

According to DG Health Shaukat Ali, the cases of pneumonia increased due to the increase in the severity of a cold. Parents should take care of children, dress them in warm clothes and keep them indoors.