KARACHI: The emergency operation centre (EOC) for polio in Sindh on Wednesday confirmed the ninth polio case in the province, taking the total count in the country to 80.

Officials said three-year-old Aman, son of Mohammad Umer, was the latest victim of poliovirus in Union Council Belo of district Sujawal.

They added that stool samples of the child could not be collected as he died from renal failure before it could be done. The child was suffering from malnutrition and was under treatment at the National Institute of Child Health, where he died, they said.

However, three samples collected from his immediate contacts confirmed active virus circulation in the area hence “this will be counted as a polio case”.

According to the EOC Sindh, the child developed frequent diarrhoea and was vomiting since Sept 10. He got treatment from various healthcare providers.

On Sept 24, he got injections on both gluteal muscles from a local faith healer following his inability to walk properly.

Subsequently, he was brought to the Civil Hospital Thatta from where the child was notified as an acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) case by a paediatrician two weeks ago and was investigated.

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2019