CHARSADDA: A 19-month-old child was diagnosed with poliovirus in Charsadda district here on Wednesday.

District health officer Nek Amal Khan confirmed that the minor, Arsalan tested positive for the poliovirus. He said the victim belonged to Tehbana Kallay area of Sarki town.

He said that it was the first polio case detected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the current year. He said the child was administered vaccines in six consecutive anti-polio campaigns ye he tested positive for poliovirus.

However, he said luckily the victim was not paralysed and he could lead a normal life as he had no physical deformity.

“The poliovirus had attacked the child’s immune system but fortunately due to the presence of antibodies developed due to the vaccine, he is able to have normally functioning limbs and move like normal child,” the DHO said.

He said the samples of the child’s blood were taken to lab in Peshawar where the test came positive. He said the child’s treatment was underway and he would soon be able to walk and spend a happy life.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2018