ISLAMABAD: There have been 18 cases of polio this year; another child has been diagnosed.
According to a representative of the National Institute of Health’s Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication on Wednesday, the most recent incidence involves a 24-month-old boy in the Quetta province.
“This is the country’s 18th case of polio this year (13 cases reported from Balochistan province, three from Sindh, one from Punjab, and one from Islamabad),” he said. “This is the second case from Quetta district, and the 13th from Balochistan.
“The case is 99.22 percent linked to Quetta’s first polio case, which had an onset date of April 29, 2024,” the official stated. “The genetic cluster is YB3A4A.”
Ayesha Raza Farooq, the PM’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, expressed her grave concern in a statement over the surge in polio cases in Balochistan and emphasized the significance of administering multiple doses of the vaccine to all children.
“What we are witnessing is the result of vaccination opportunities that were lost in certain regions of Balochistan, allowing the virus to proliferate and endure over time,” the spokesperson stated.
“There is a risk to children nationwide and the importance of vaccination during upcoming polio campaigns, as demonstrated by the high number of cases on both sides of the border,” Ms. Farooq stated.
She expressed gratitude for the high-level participation of the Balochistani province’s senior leadership, specifically the chief minister, chief secretary, and Quetta commissioner.
