Another child has contracted polio, increasing this year’s total to 18 cases.
According to an official at the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health, the most recent diagnosis involves a 24-month-old boy from Quetta district.
“This marks the second polio case in Quetta, the 13th in Balochistan, and the 18th nationwide this year. The cases include 13 from Balochistan, three from Sindh, one from Punjab, and one from Islamabad,” the official reported.
He further noted that the genetic cluster identified is YB3A4A, showing a 99.22% genetic link to Quetta’s first polio case of the year, which appeared on April 29, 2024.
Meanwhile, Ayesha Raza Farooq, the PM’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, voiced significant concern about the escalating polio incidents in Balochistan and emphasized the critical need to administer multiple doses of polio vaccines to every child.
“We are witnessing the consequences of vaccination gaps in parts of Balochistan, which have permitted the virus to persist and spread,” she stated.
“The alarming case count on both sides of the border highlights the risks to all children and underscores the urgency of vaccinations in the upcoming polio drives,” Ms. Farooq added.
She also recognized the active involvement of Balochistan’s top officials, including the chief minister, chief secretary, and the Quetta commissioner, in combating the polio outbreak.
