ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reported the sixth case of poliovirus in as many months this year, equalling the tally for the entire previous year.

The case was reported from Balochistan’s Qila Abdullah district on Tuesday, a day after Pri­m­­­e Minister Shehbaz Sharif chai­red a meeting on the polio programme, which was also attended by philanthropist Bill Gates.

According to a document available with Dawn, the latest victim is an 18-month-old male child living in the Killi Syedan area of Qila Abdullah. He had not received any oral polio vaccine since birth.

As per the parents, the child had a high-grade fever on June 1 and developed weakness in the right leg two days later.

Special vaccination drive in Balochistan from July 1; PM appoints Ayesha Raza Farooq as focal person

The child was taken to a local healthcare centre and was referred to Al-Khair private hospital in Quetta on June 8.

He had no travel history prior to the onset of the paralysis.

‘Situation getting out of control’

The prime minister’s coordinator on National Health Services, Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, has confirmed that this is the second case of poliovirus in Qila Abdullah and fifth from Balochistan this year. He added that poliovirus has been found in over 40 districts this year.

Muhammad Anwarul Haq, the recently appointed head of the polio eradication programme, also said that the virus moves with people and repeated vaccination was the most effective way to keep our children safe.

“The polio programme has conducted five vaccination campaigns this year; however, we have faced challenges in implementing full campaigns in many parts of Balochistan due to security issues and localised protests, which has led to immunity gaps,” he said.

An official of the National Institute of Health said six cases since January is an indication that the situation was “continuously getting out of control” and there is a need to take strict measures to control the virus.

Following the polio cases, a decision has been made to launch a special vaccination drive in several districts of Balochistan.

The special campaign will start from July 1 in 16 districts, including Loralai, Qila Saifullah, Duki, Usta Mohammad, Mastu­­ng, Sibi, Naseerabad, Kalat, Zhob, Sherani, Barkhan, Musakhail, Lasbela, Chaman, Qila Abdullah and Sanjavi tehsil of Ziarat.

PM appoints focal person on polio

PM Shehbaz has appointed Ayesha Raza Farooq as his focal person on polio eradication.

A statement by the Prime Minister’s Office said Ms Farooq has been appointed in an honorary capacity to regularly apprise the PM of the latest situation of polio eradication efforts.

Saleem Shahid in Quetta also contributed to this report

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2024