ISLAMABAD: A case of polio has been reported in Balochistan, which has taken the countrywide tally of such cases detected during the current year to 64.

According to an official of the National Institute of Health, the latest victim is a 20-month-old boy. His family lives in Union Council Mian Ghundi of Quetta district.

“Both the child’s lower limbs have been paralysed. He did not receive any polio vaccine as his family was against vaccination. Socio-economic status of the family has been termed poor,” he said.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries where polio cases are still being reported because many families refuse to get their children vaccinated.

Pakistan remains under polio-linked travel restrictions imposed by the World Health Organisation. Since 2014, every person travelling abroad from Pakistan has to carry a polio vaccination certificate.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2020