DERA GHAZI KHAN: An allegedly vaccinated child tested positive for wild poliovirus here, making this the fourth case in Dera Ghazi Khan this year.

Twenty two-month-old Zafar Iqbal, son of Muhammad Iqbal, a resident of Khakhi village, was found positive with wild poliovirus.

Deputy Commissioner Tahir Farooq claimed that the child was fully vaccinated and the detection of wild poliovirus in him was astonishing, adding that samples from the child had been collected on Sept 17. He further said that they were looking into the causes of emergence of the virus.

A high-level meeting comprising global, national, provincial and local health authorities along with all stakeholders was held last month in Dera Ghazi Khan to ascertain the causes and devising a strategy to combat wild poliovirus as it could spread in the rest of the country as well as outside.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2020