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

Meghalaya man missing in Bangkok

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NEHU VC seeks withdrawal of forces from campus

Shillong, Apr 29: The vice-chancellor in-charge of North Eastern...

Putin declares three-day ceasefire for WWII Victory Day

Kyiv, Apr 29: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday...

17 terrorists killed in Pak

Peshawar, Apr 29: Pakistani security forces on Monday killed...

Eminent Malayalam filmmaker Shaji N Karun dies at 73

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 29: Legendary Malayalam filmmaker and cinematographer Shaji...

Salman Khan postpones UK tour in wake of Pahalgam terror attack

New Delhi, Apr 29: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan on...

14-year-old Suryavanshi breaks records, wins hearts to keep Royals alive

Jaipur, Apr 29: Fourteen-year-old boy wonder Vaibhav Suryavanshi walked...

Barcelona targets European title hat trick after winning UEFA Youth League final

Nyon (Switzerland), Apr 29: Barcelona is on course for...

Youth shot dead in Delhi; 2 juveniles held

New Delhi, Apr 29: Two juveniles have been apprehended...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img