Pakistan polio surge continues, Case tally now 48
In a follow-up on the wild poliovirus surge in Pakistan, the National Institute of Health, Islamabad has confirmed two additional Wild Poliovirus Type-1 (WPV1) cases yesterday.
The 47th case was confirmed in a male child from Ghotki district of Sindh. This is the first polio case from Ghotki.
Ghotki is located in central Pakistan and borders districts like Sukkur, Rahim Yar Khan and Shikarpur where the virus has been reported earlier this year.
Later that day, officials reported the 48th case in a male child from DI Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. DI Khan is among the polio-endemic districts in southern KP. This is the third polio case from DI Khan.
There have been 48 WPV1 case reported this year- Balochistan (23), Sindh (13), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (10) and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
In the other polio endemic country, Afghanistan, 23 WPV1 cases have been reported to date, for a total 71. This compares to 12 cases reported in all of 2023.
Officials say the oral polio vaccine is essential to keep children protected from disability from a polio infection. The Polio Programme brings the oral polio vaccine to citizens’ doorsteps multiple times a year, while the Expanded Programme for Immunization provides vaccines against 12 childhood diseases at your nearest health centers free of charge.
Polio is caused by a human enterovirus called the poliovirus. The virus is most often spread by the fecal-oral route. Poliovirus enters through the mouth and multiplies in the intestine. Infected individuals shed poliovirus into the environment for several weeks, where it can spread rapidly through a community, especially in areas of poor sanitation. Poliomyelitis can affect any age, but primarily involves children ages less than 5 years and can cause paralysis or even death.