Islamabad, August 3, 2024 – A 12th child has been paralyzed by wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in Chakwal district of Punjab, highlighting the persistent risk of polio and the importance for parents to ensure complete vaccination status of their children.   

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health in Islamabad confirmed the detection of WPV1 in a child from Miani UC of Chakwal. The affected child showed symptoms of paralysis on July 16 and subsequent testing confirmed poliovirus infection.

Coordinator to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Malik Mukhtar Bharat said, “It is a tragedy that children in Pakistan continue to fall prey to a disease that can be easily prevented with a vaccine that the government brings to people’s doorsteps,” he said, urging parents to ensure full vaccination for their children.

Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq said that the detection of a case from Punjab after a gap of four years is alarming.

“The Polio Programme is launching a thorough case investigation to find out how the virus made inroads into the district and what are the immunity levels of children in Chakwal and surrounding districts at risk of polio spread,” she said, adding that the Programme is in the process of implementing a comprehensive strategy to control virus spread which has been created in consultation with provinces and all stakeholders.

This is the first polio case of the year from Punjab and first case from Chakwal in nearly 10 years. Twelve polio cases have been reported this year – nine from Balochistan, two from Sindh and one from Punjab.

Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Center for Polio Eradication Captain (R) Anwarul Haq said that wild poliovirus has spread to 58 districts of the country this year, posing a real threat to children everywhere.

“A case of polio anywhere, is a risk to children everywhere. Oral polio vaccine offers protection from lifelong paralysis against this tragic disease. The Programme is dedicated to ensuring that all children in the country receive multiple doses of the vaccine and we will continue to work for the wellbeing of our children,” he said.

WPV1 has also been reported from sewage samples collected between July 9 and July 20 from Karachi East, Karachi Korangi, Islamabad and Multan. These districts have reported positive environmental samples previously this year as well.

Note:

Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by poliovirus mainly affecting children under the age of five years. It invades the nervous system and can cause paralysis or even death. While there is no cure for polio, vaccination is the most effective way to protect children from this crippling disease. Each time a child under the age of five is vaccinated, their protection against the virus is increased. Repeated immunisations have protected millions of children from polio, allowing almost all countries in the world to become polio-free, except for the two endemic countries of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

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