Killa Saifullah: A 20-month-old girl from the Killa Saifullah district in Balochistan has been diagnosed with polio, the first case in the region since 2020 and the 14th in Pakistan this year. This incident underscores the critical need for continuous vaccination efforts, especially amidst an escalating outbreak of the wild poliovirus in the country.
According to National Disaster Management Authority, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health confirmed that the child developed paralysis in both legs on July 22 and passed away shortly after. This case highlights a resurgence of the virus in areas close to the Afghanistan border, where polio remains endemic and poses significant health risks to unvaccinated children.
The recent increase in polio cases in Balochistan has been a cause of concern for health officials, prompting the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq, to acknowledge the gaps in immunity among children in the region. The National Emergency Center for Polio Eradication is developing an emergency vaccination strategy to address the urgent need in high-risk districts. Muhammad Anwarul Haq, the coordinator of the center, noted that 11 of the year’s cases have emerged from Balochistan, emphasizing the high transmission rate of the virus in the province.
The government continues to advocate for regular vaccinations through the Expanded Programme on Immunization, which offers free routine vaccinations at healthcare centers. Parents are urged to ensure that their children, particularly those under five, receive vaccinations during the upcoming large-scale polio campaigns planned for early September.