“New Poliovirus Case Confirmed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan; Total Cases Reach Six This Year”
Muhammad Naeem:
On Saturday, the Health Ministry in Pakistan announced the confirmation of a new case of poliovirus in a 9-month-old child from the Okarzai district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). This brings the total number of reported polio cases in Pakistan for the year to six.
In addition to the confirmed case, the presence of poliovirus has been identified in 20 environmental samples collected from 12 districts across the country. The detection of the virus in environmental samples signals its circulation in the community, posing a serious threat to children under the age of five.
Emphasizing the importance of vaccination, the health ministry has urged parents to ensure that their children receive all recommended polio vaccinations. Polio is a preventable disease, and vaccination remains the most effective way to protect children from this potentially life-threatening illness.
In response to the ongoing challenge, Pakistan initiated a week-long nationwide polio vaccination campaign on Monday. This effort targets over 44 million children across various regions of the country, including Pakistani-administered Kashmir. The campaign is part of global efforts to eradicate polio, with Pakistan and one other country still facing the persistence of the paralyzing virus.
