LAHORE: After Fata and Karachi, now Lahore has also been added to the ‘index of poliovirus transmission zones’ of the country as the genetic sequence result of a poliovirus that paralysed a baby in Farooqabad, Sheikhupura, has established its link to the virus circulating in the provincial capital.

The poliovirus has paralysed nine-month old Husnain, son of a farmer from Farooqabad. The case surfaced a few days ago.

It is for the first time that the genetic link of a poliovirus was linked to Lahore, putting the huge young population of the provincial capital and the nearby cities at a grave risk of contracting the crippling disease.

Samples being drawn from the Outfall Road pumping station of Lahore have been consistently reporting the presence of poliovirus since December 2013.

Anti-polio drive in four districts

“We are very concerned that now Lahore virus has started paralysing the kids and that is an alarming sign,” a health official told Dawn.

He said this ‘development’ had sent a wave of shock among the health authorities which immediately marked four major districts for an aggressive anti-polio campaign. The districts are Lahore, Sheikhupura, Hafizabad, Kamoki in Gujranwala district and some parts of Faisalabad.

The official confirmed that according to a report, issued by the National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad, the polio case found in Farooqabad was genetically linked to the Outfall Road virus.

Earlier, he said two cases were reported from Chakwal and Bhakkar which were genetically linked to Fata.

Sharing history and family background of the affected baby of Farooqabad, he said nine-month-old Husain was fully vaccinated.

“He had received four doses during the last anti-polio vaccine drives launched in the area. The baby was diagnosed with poor health condition besides immunity issues,” the official said quoting case response study.

About the factors which led to the onset of the disease, he said the family had been visiting the provincial capital along with the affected baby.

Punjab EPI Programme Director Dr Munir Ahmad said the health department had planned anti-polio vaccine drive in four districts, including Lahore and Sheikhupura, next week. He confirmed that Lahore was the origin of the polio case reported in Sheikhupura, saying the situation was worrisome but the health authorities were fully prepared to stop transmission of the virus from the provincial capital to any other district.

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2014