Pakistani well being authorities confirmed the nation’s first polio case in Islamabad in over 16 years, signaling a major blow to the nation’s efforts to get rid of the virus.
The wild poliovirus sort 1 (WPV1) was detected in a younger little one dwelling in Union Council Rural 4 of Islamabad, in line with the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio on the Nationwide Institute of Well being.This marks the 17th case of polio in Pakistan this 12 months alone, underscoring the resurgence of a virus that the nation had been on the verge of eradicating.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Particular person for Polio Eradication, mentioned, “It’s extremely heartbreaking that one other Pakistani little one has been affected by a illness that has no treatment however is fully preventable with the assistance of an simply accessible vaccine,” she mentioned.
Farooq highlighted the urgency of the state of affairs, calling for renewed efforts to guard the nation’s youngsters from this preventable however devastating illness.
In response to the disaster, the Polio Programme has introduced a nationwide vaccination marketing campaign set to start subsequent week. Beginning on September 9, vaccination groups will go to households throughout 115 districts to immunize over 33 million youngsters below the age of 5.
Muhammad Anwarul Haq, Coordinator of the Nationwide Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, echoed this sentiment, emphasising the focused nature of the upcoming marketing campaign. “We’re concentrating our efforts notably in districts the place the virus has been detected, as the specter of continued transmission stays excessive,” he defined. Haq known as upon mother and father to actively cooperate with well being employees through the door-to-door marketing campaign, noting that each missed little one might probably result in a brand new outbreak.
The nation reported just one polio case in 2021. Nevertheless, 2024 has seen a troubling spike in infections, with 12 circumstances reported in Balochistan, three in Sindh, and now, one every in Punjab and Islamabad.
The wild poliovirus sort 1 (WPV1) was detected in a younger little one dwelling in Union Council Rural 4 of Islamabad, in line with the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio on the Nationwide Institute of Well being.This marks the 17th case of polio in Pakistan this 12 months alone, underscoring the resurgence of a virus that the nation had been on the verge of eradicating.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Particular person for Polio Eradication, mentioned, “It’s extremely heartbreaking that one other Pakistani little one has been affected by a illness that has no treatment however is fully preventable with the assistance of an simply accessible vaccine,” she mentioned.
Farooq highlighted the urgency of the state of affairs, calling for renewed efforts to guard the nation’s youngsters from this preventable however devastating illness.
In response to the disaster, the Polio Programme has introduced a nationwide vaccination marketing campaign set to start subsequent week. Beginning on September 9, vaccination groups will go to households throughout 115 districts to immunize over 33 million youngsters below the age of 5.
Muhammad Anwarul Haq, Coordinator of the Nationwide Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, echoed this sentiment, emphasising the focused nature of the upcoming marketing campaign. “We’re concentrating our efforts notably in districts the place the virus has been detected, as the specter of continued transmission stays excessive,” he defined. Haq known as upon mother and father to actively cooperate with well being employees through the door-to-door marketing campaign, noting that each missed little one might probably result in a brand new outbreak.
The nation reported just one polio case in 2021. Nevertheless, 2024 has seen a troubling spike in infections, with 12 circumstances reported in Balochistan, three in Sindh, and now, one every in Punjab and Islamabad.
