As the news of sudden hike in HIV incidence in Sindh – southeast of Pakistan – is making rounds on local and international media, the locals of Mastung city in Balochistan, southwestern province, have been looking forward to findings of an investigation team that was formed to probe an outbreak of a ‘mysterious’ virus causing skin allergies and respiratory problems at girls’ schools in the city.
At least 200 school-going girls have been affected by the virus – the figure that has been, so far, circulating in the local media reports –bringing academic activities to a standstill at some schools of Shamsabad area in the city, which were said to be badly hit by the virus. Many of those students have been teamed up and referred to an emergency health facilities in Quetta by District Headquarter Hospital (DHQ) Mastung after their health conditions were pronounced unstable.
Considering the grievous situation, the members of civil society in Mastung have started raising questions over the outbreak of the virus that has so far only affected the girls’ schools. “Why are the girls’ schools of Mastung city alone being hit by the virus?”, BBC Urdu Service quoted distressed students as saying on its website.
Some videos have also emerged on social media platforms about the incident. In one such video, a local resident of the city, in a brief video interview with Balochistan Awami News (BAN), was heard as saying that toxins have been sprayed at the girls’ schools that has been causing hindrances to girls’ education. “I think there has been a spray at schools that had affected these girls”, the resident said while casting a doubt and demanding immediate quality treatment from the provincial health minister.
Another student, while recalling what happened to her when she entered the classroom after the assembly session, said that there was an unpleasant odor accompanied by an uncomfortable sensation of itching all over the body.
So far, the mainstream media in Pakistan has been standing aloof from highlighting the incident. However, an investigation team has been set up by the provincial health department to probe into the matter after a protest was held by the locals over the abrupt spread of the virus.
The investigation team has surveyed some of the worst virus-affected schools of the Shamsabad area. It has been revealed in the initial part of the investigation that the girls have been affected by a viral infection called “dermatitis”. The victims, however, have been apprehensive about returning to schools since the experts have yet to investigate the causes of this viral infection.
Disease or viral infection?
Numerous researches have been conducted on dermatitis. Some facts pertaining to this viral infection has been published by Mayo Clinic on its website. According to the web-portal, dermatitis is a general term that describes an inflammation of the skin and can have many causes and can occur in many forms with common symptoms such as: an itchy rash on, swollen, reddened skin.
It is significant to mention that Mastung is some 47 kilometres southwest of the provincial capital of Quetta. The province shares a border with Iran and Afghanistan and is home to the majority of the Baluch tribes, followed by the Pashtuns. Several militant groups are active in the region, including the Pakistani Taliban and the Sunni-Muslim extremist group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, besides numerous nationalist armed groups.
