The National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued an advisory directing the authorities in the province to take emergency measures to halt the spread of the throat disease “diphtheria” across Pakistan.

The NIH released a statement advising health authorities to enhance monitoring, as diphtheria cases and fatalities have been reported from multiple cities across Pakistan.

Diphtheria, a serious bacterial infection affecting the throat and respiratory tract, spreads through person-to-person contact and can be life-threatening if untreated.

NIH further revealed the key symptoms of diphtheria which include severe cough, wheezing, fever, sore throat, and nasal congestion, often appearing within two to five days of infection.

According to the NIH, delayed in the treatment can resulted in a 10 percent fatality rate, with the mortality risk likely to spiked at 5 to 17 percent for unvaccinated people.

The high-risk groups include unvaccinated children under five, elderly individuals, and those living in crowded settings.

In response, the NIH is providing free diagnostic testing for suspected cases and urges citizens to get vaccinated to prevent infection.

Health experts are also being asked to educate the public on preventive measures, aiming to curb the spread of diphtheria nationwide.