Islamabad, August 6, 2024 – An 11-month-old infant from Killa Abdullah has been paralyzed by wild poliovirus, highlighting the persistent threat of polio and the urgency for communities to ensure polio vaccination of all under-five children living among them.
The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health confirmed polio in a child who developed symptoms of paralysis on July 17, bringing the total number of cases reported this year to 13.
Expressing concern at the increasing polio detections from Balochistan, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Malik Mukhtar Bharat said that protecting children from this devastating disease is the paramount priority of the government.
He added: “We are working with the provincial government to redouble our efforts to strengthen immunization in the province and build children’s immunity against polio.”
Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq said that Balochistan is facing the brunt of a poliovirus outbreak, particularly in historic poliovirus strongholds like Quetta, Chaman and Killa Abdullah.
The PM’s Focal Person, who met with Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and other senior officials this past week in Balochistan, said the provincial government is dealing with this situation on an emergency footing and is strategizing to curb virus spread.
The Polio Programme’s National Polio Management Team is also meeting this week at a critical time as preparations escalate ahead of the next polio campaign in September.
“Poliovirus is extremely smart in showing our gaps, where we have missed children through campaigns and routine immunization,” she said. “We are re-grouping efforts and momentum with our provincial colleagues to urgently plug these gaps to curb further spread of the virus.”
Over the past few weeks, the Polio Programme has conducted an extensive self-critical assessment in consultation with all provinces and is in the process of implementing a comprehensive roadmap to interrupt virus transmission, particularly in polio high-risk districts.
Reiterating the importance of vaccination, the PM’s Focal Person further said while the Polio Programme brings the protective polio vaccine to children’s doorsteps multiple times a year, the continued support of parents and communities remain critical to ensure that no child is missed in these vaccination drives.
National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) Coordinator Anwarul Haq said that the persistent detection of cases from Killa Abdullah highlights the need for relentless vigilance and urgent action.
“The Balochistan EOC and health department with the full support of federal teams are on the frontlines against this outbreak,” he said, adding that the Programme is committed to making Pakistan polio-free.
This is the 13th polio case from Pakistan this year, the 10th from Balochistan and fifth from Killa Abdullah. Two cases have been reported from Sindh and one from Punjab.
Note for Editor:
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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