KARACHI, Oct 16: With the detection of another polio case in Sindh, the total number of confirmed polio cases reached six for the current year in the province which is yet to witness the onset of winter.
Earlier a polio case was detected in Baldia Town, Karachi, in August. The last quarter of the year could be crucial for the polio eradication teams as polio virus is transmitted during the four high-risk months from August to November, according to experts.
When contacted, Expanded Programme on Immunisation Project Director Dr Salma Ali said the latest victim was five months old. The case was detected in Miru Khan Taluka of Qambar district, she said.
The investigating authorities had confirmed that the child was affected by P3 polio virus, she said, regretting that the chid had been receiving polio drops regularly though during the EPI campaigns.
Besides the latest finding, one case from Khairpur, and two cases each from Karachi and Jacobabad have been confirmed in the province since January.
Last year, 12 polio cases were detected in the province. Four of them were found in Karachi, two in Sukkur and one each in Naushehro Feroze, Umerkot, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Sanghar.
An expert says poor hygiene and accumulation of water for long in the flood-affected areas of Sindh interior can hamper the activities of anti-polio workers who have been anticipating a significant cut in polio cases this year.
