Polio in Pakistan: First human case reported from Islamabad in 16 years
In a follow-up on the wild poliovirus situation in Pakistan this year, a wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) case was detected in a child, who has been paralyzed, from Union Council Rural 4 of Islamabad.
This is the 17th polio case of the year in Pakistan and the first human case reported from Islamabad in 16 years.
The 16 prior cases this year were reported from Balochistan (12), Sindh (3) and one from Punjab.
“It is incredibly heartbreaking that another Pakistan child has been affected by a disease that has no cure but is entirely preventable with the help of an easily accessible vaccine,” said Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ms Ayesha Raza Farooq.
She added that in view of the intense outbreak of poliovirus in the country, the Polio Programme has held in-depth consultative sessions with the provinces and districts to implement plans to improve all aspects of polio eradication activities, starting from a polio campaign beginning next week.
“From September 9 onwards, polio teams will go house-to-house in 115 districts to vaccinate more than 33 million children under five,” she said. “This virus does not discriminate. Wherever it finds a child with weak immunity, it will attack. Parents must understand the urgency of ensuring that their children receive polio drops and are up to date on their routine immunization.”
Muhammad Anwarul Haq, Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, said the Polio Programme is launching this targeted vaccination campaign from September 9, particularly in districts where the virus has been detected and where the risk of continued transmission and spread is really high.
“We’re ramping up efforts to reach every child with polio vaccines, including in Islamabad. We have a collective responsibility to protect the health and wellbeing of our children from crippling diseases such as polio.”
He reiterated that unfortunately, parents have not always welcomed and opened their doors to the vaccinators when they visit their homes. “I encourage all parents and caregivers to make sure your children are not missed when the vaccinators visit your house next week.”
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.