Pakistan reports fourth polio case this year

Pakistan has reported its fourth case of polio this year, blasting the country’s efforts to eradicate the incurable disease.

The incident was reported on Saturday as the government appointed a new head of the polio eradication program after his predecessor resigned this week.

Dawn reported that it had obtained documents indicating that the victim was a 30-month-old child from Rakhi area of ​​Shikarpur district in Sindh.

According to reports, the boy was taken to hospital after suddenly losing strength in both his legs and being unable to lift his head.

This is the first case reported from Sindh as the previous three victims were from Balochistan.

According to the National Institute of Health in Islamabad, the latest case, like the three previous ones, was caused by wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1).

Dr Malik Mukhtar Bharat, the Prime Minister’s National Health Service Coordinator, said an investigation team had been sent to carry out a thorough investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Health on Saturday appointed Muhammad Anwarul Haq, joint secretary in the ministry, as coordinator of the National Emergency Operation Centre for Polio Eradication.

He replaces Dr Shazad Baig, who resigned on Friday citing personal reasons.

Moreover, a new campaign to vaccinate over 16.5 million children under the age of five in 66 districts will begin on Monday.

The campaign is planned ahead of the peak Eid Al-Azha travel season and will cover all 36 districts and parts of 30 districts.

These areas include Islamabad, 20 districts of Balochistan, 23 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 16 districts of Sindh and six districts of Punjab. This is the fifth polio vaccination campaign this year.

According to the World Health Organization, polio remains endemic in only two countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan.