4 new polio cases reported in Pakistan, tally rises to 37 this year

Islamabad, Oct 19: Pakistan reported another four cases of poliovirus taking the national tally to 37 this year, a media report said on Saturday.

The regional reference laboratory for polio eradication at the National Institute of Health, Islamabad, on Friday, confirmed the detection of wild poliovirus type-1 (WPV 1) in three children from Balochistan and one child from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Dawn newspaper reported.

The children affected by the wild poliovirus include a girl from Pishin, two boys from Chaman and Noshki in Balochistan, and a girl from Lakki Marwat district of KP, according to an official of the regional reference laboratory for polio eradication.

Of the 37 cases detected from across Pakistan so far this year, the official said, 20 have been reported from Balochis­tan, 10 from Sindh, five from KP, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.

“Genetic sequencing of the cases is underway,” he disclosed.

“These were the first polio cases from Noshki and Lakki Marwat this year,” he said, adding that both Chaman and Pishin had reported one poliovirus case each earlier as well.

Officials claimed that the fight against poliovirus in Balochistan and southern KP suffered throughout 2023 and early 2024, as immunisation campaigns were either staggered or postponed due to localised protests, insecurity and community boycotts, leaving a cohort of missed children who could sustain virus transmission.

Noshki is located on the border with Afghanistan and borders Quetta and Mastung districts where environmental samples have tested positive for WPV1 in recent months, indicating virus circulation, while Lakki Marwat has also reported multiple positive environmental samples recently.

A nationwide polio vaccination campaign will be launched on October 28 to vaccinate more than 45 million children under the age of five against paralytic polio, according to Dawn.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries in the world where polio remains endemic, according to the World Health Organisation. (PTI)

Hot this week

Pay hike of Assam ministers, MLAs likely as 3-member panel submits report

Full report likely by Oct 30 Guwahati Sept 25: There...

Meghalaya Biological Park Inaugurated After 25 Years: A New Chapter in Conservation and Education

Shillong, Nov 28: Though it took nearly 25 years...

ANSAM rejects Kuki’s separate administration demand, says bifurcation not acceptable

Guwahati, Sept 8: Rejecting the separate administration demand of...

Meghalaya man missing in Bangkok

Shillong, Jan 10: A 57-year-old Meghalaya resident, Mr. Treactchell...

Meghalaya’s historic fiber paves the way for eco-friendly products and sustainable livelihoods

By Roopak Goswami Shillong, Oct 25: From making earbuds to...

Mizoram to launch special operation against drug smuggling

Aizawl, Sep 1: The Mizoram government will launch a...

Bengali-speaking Hindus most comfortable ever in Assam in last 10 years: Himanta

Silchar (Assam), Sep1: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma...

6.0 magnitude earthquake shakes southeastern Afghanistan near Pakistan border

Kabul, Sep 1: A magnitude 6.0 earthquake shook eastern...

Idol immersion draws curtain on: Ganesh Puja festivities in Tura

Tura, Aug 31: Ganesh Puja festivities came to a...

Stray dogs issue ‘distinct’ in Meghalaya: HC 

HC decides to request SC to retain PIL related...

Thriston Lawrence wins in Switzerland for fifth title on European tour

Crans Montana (Switzerland), Aug 31: Thriston Lawrence of South...

EC targets new voter cards for all Bihar voters post SIR

New Delhi, Aug 31: The Election Commission plans to...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories