Pakistani well being authorities confirmed the nation’s first polio case in Islamabad in over 16 years, signaling a big blow to the nation’s efforts to get rid of the virus.
The wild poliovirus sort 1 (WPV1) was detected in a younger youngster residing in Union Council Rural 4 of Islamabad, in accordance with the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio on the Nationwide Institute of Well being.This marks the 17th case of polio in Pakistan this 12 months alone, underscoring the resurgence of a virus that the nation had been on the verge of eradicating.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Particular person for Polio Eradication, stated, “It’s extremely heartbreaking that one other Pakistani youngster has been affected by a illness that has no treatment however is fully preventable with the assistance of an simply accessible vaccine,” she stated.
Farooq highlighted the urgency of the scenario, calling for renewed efforts to guard the nation’s kids from this preventable however devastating illness.
In response to the disaster, the Polio Programme has introduced a nationwide vaccination marketing campaign set to start subsequent week. Beginning on September 9, vaccination groups will go to households throughout 115 districts to immunize over 33 million kids beneath the age of 5.
Muhammad Anwarul Haq, Coordinator of the Nationwide Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, echoed this sentiment, emphasising the focused nature of the upcoming marketing campaign. “We’re concentrating our efforts significantly in districts the place the virus has been detected, as the specter of continued transmission stays excessive,” he defined. Haq referred to as upon mother and father to actively cooperate with well being staff in the course of the door-to-door marketing campaign, noting that each missed youngster may doubtlessly result in a brand new outbreak.
The nation reported just one polio case in 2021. Nevertheless, 2024 has seen a troubling spike in infections, with 12 circumstances reported in Balochistan, three in Sindh, and now, one every in Punjab and Islamabad.
The wild poliovirus sort 1 (WPV1) was detected in a younger youngster residing in Union Council Rural 4 of Islamabad, in accordance with the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio on the Nationwide Institute of Well being.This marks the 17th case of polio in Pakistan this 12 months alone, underscoring the resurgence of a virus that the nation had been on the verge of eradicating.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Particular person for Polio Eradication, stated, “It’s extremely heartbreaking that one other Pakistani youngster has been affected by a illness that has no treatment however is fully preventable with the assistance of an simply accessible vaccine,” she stated.
Farooq highlighted the urgency of the scenario, calling for renewed efforts to guard the nation’s kids from this preventable however devastating illness.
In response to the disaster, the Polio Programme has introduced a nationwide vaccination marketing campaign set to start subsequent week. Beginning on September 9, vaccination groups will go to households throughout 115 districts to immunize over 33 million kids beneath the age of 5.
Muhammad Anwarul Haq, Coordinator of the Nationwide Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, echoed this sentiment, emphasising the focused nature of the upcoming marketing campaign. “We’re concentrating our efforts significantly in districts the place the virus has been detected, as the specter of continued transmission stays excessive,” he defined. Haq referred to as upon mother and father to actively cooperate with well being staff in the course of the door-to-door marketing campaign, noting that each missed youngster may doubtlessly result in a brand new outbreak.
The nation reported just one polio case in 2021. Nevertheless, 2024 has seen a troubling spike in infections, with 12 circumstances reported in Balochistan, three in Sindh, and now, one every in Punjab and Islamabad.
