A polio case has been confirmed in Islamabad for the first time in 16 years, sparking concern among health authorities. The virus was detected in a child from Union Council 4, bringing the total number of polio cases in Pakistan to 17 this year.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, expressed deep concern over the case, stating, “Unfortunately, another Pakistani child has been affected by polio.” She emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment to controlling the spread of the virus, highlighting a comprehensive roadmap for eradication.
Anwar Haq, Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre, announced that efforts to deliver polio vaccines to every child are being intensified. “We are taking all necessary steps to ensure no child is left unvaccinated,” Haq added.
From September 9 to 13, the Polio Programme will launch a large-scale vaccination campaign across 115 districts, aiming to vaccinate 33 million children under the age of five. Vaccinators will go door-to-door to administer the oral polio vaccine (OPV), especially targeting children in hard-to-reach and underserved areas.
Ayesha Raza urged parents to ensure their children receive the vaccine, stressing that repeated doses of the OPV are crucial for protection against the virus.
Previously, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health confirmed the presence of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in samples collected between August 13-20 from various regions, including Attock, South Waziristan Lower, Tank, Peshawar, and six districts of Karachi.
The virus has now spread to 64 districts across Pakistan, affecting all four provinces and one district in Azad Jammu Kashmir. This year, WPV1 has paralyzed 16 children, with the most recent case reported in Hyderabad, where a 29-month-old child was affected.
Despite continuous efforts to eradicate polio, the persistence of WPV1 in environmental samples points to gaps in vaccine coverage and outreach. The virus has disproportionately impacted Balochistan, where 12 cases have been reported, followed by Sindh with three cases and Punjab with one.
The upcoming vaccination campaign, starting on September 9, aims to close these gaps, targeting millions of children who remain vulnerable to polio.
