ISLAMABAD: Polio cases continue to rise as the country reported three new cases on Monday, bri­n­ging the tally so far this year to 59.

According to an official, the Regional Reference Lab­oratory for Polio Erad­i­ca­tion confirmed the detection of one case each of poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in Dera Ismail Khan, Karachi and Kashmore.

“The genetic sequencing of the samples collected from the children shows that they are genetically linked to the same WPV1 virus genetic cluster,” the official said.

D.I. Khan, one of the seven polio-endemic districts in southern Khy­ber Pakhtunkhwa, has now reported eight polio cases.

Of the 59 cases reported so far this year, 26 are from Baloch­istan, 16 from KP, 15 from Sindh and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.

The Pakistan Polio Pro­gramme conducts multiple mass vaccination drives annually, delivering the vaccine directly to children at their doorsteps.

Additionally, the Expan­ded Programme on Immu­nisation offers vaccinations against 12 childhood diseases free of charge at health facilities.

The next mass vaccination campaign is scheduled for mid-December, aiming to reach over 44 million children with the vaccine. Given the ongoing polio outbreak, it is crucial for parents to ensure that all their children under the age of five are vaccinated to protect them from the disease.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

The Peca problem
Updated 15 Feb, 2025

The Peca problem

The fight for fundamental freedoms is not the media’s alone, but one that concerns every citizen.
Miners in danger
15 Feb, 2025

Miners in danger

YESTERDAY’S devastating terrorist attack in Harnai, which killed at least 11 coal miners and injured seven others,...
Solar panels scam
15 Feb, 2025

Solar panels scam

THE scam involving over-invoicing to the tune of more than Rs69bn in the import of solar panels raises many ...
Dangerous times
Updated 14 Feb, 2025

Dangerous times

Pakistan accounted for six journalist killings in 2024, of which three were deliberately murdered, according to the CPJ.
Difficult target
14 Feb, 2025

Difficult target

A ONE-two punch delivered by an unforeseen, sharp dip in inflation and an extremely slim base of taxpayers is...
Amazing show
14 Feb, 2025

Amazing show

PAKISTAN’S ability to turn it up at the flick of a switch remains uninhibited. The latest show came in...