Islamabad, Nov 1 (PTI) Pakistani health authorities on Sunday reported a new poliovirus infection case, taking this year's tally of the crippling disease to eight.
The National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication (NEOC) confirmed that the new case was reported from Khyber district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
“The affected child is a 13-month-old girl from Union Council Janbaz-B in Tehsil Bara (Khyber). This is the second case reported from Khyber district this year – and the sixth from KP province – underscoring that no child will be safe from polio until all children are consistently vaccinated and protected across the country,” the NEOC said in a statement.
It added that while overall wild poliovirus transmission has declined this year, the Peshawar Block, which comprises Khyber and Peshawar districts, has reported positive environmental detections, indicating virus circulation and a continued risk to children’s health.
The NEOC urged parents to ensure all children under five receive the oral polio vaccine in the upcoming subnational polio campaign from November 2 to 8, and in subsequent campaigns.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries in the world where wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) is still endemic.
