Pakistan's polio tally hits 16 with new case in Sindh

IV Report

KARACHI: Pakistan's polio tally for 2024 has risen to 16 with the confirmation of a new case in Hyderabad, Sindh, on August 22. The latest case involves a 29-month-old girl child who experienced paralysis onset on August 3.

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication in Islamabad confirmed the presence of Type-1 Wild Poliovirus (WPV1) in her stool specimen.

This is the third polio case reported in Sindh this year, with 12 cases in Balochistan and one in Punjab. The detection has raised concerns, as the virus was already prevalent in Hyderabad's environment.

Enhanced surveillance and remedial measures are necessary, especially since this is the first polio case reported in Hyderabad this year, according to independent observers. Hyderabad division, which is the second major division of Sindh after Karachi, had no polio case in 2023.

Genetic analysis reveals that the virus found in the child is linked to a virus detected in an environmental sample from Hyderabad on May 8.

Sindh has 28 environmental sample collection sites, with 111 samples testing positive for poliovirus so far in 2024. Positive samples pertained to Karachi (72), Hyderabad (14), Sukkur (8), Jacobabad (5), Jamshoro (5), Mirpurkhas (3), Kambar (2), Badin (1) and Dadu (1).

The situation is alarming, as Hyderabad is also exporting the virus to other districts, sources said. Authorities have found genetic links between viruses detected in environmental samples from Karachi and Hyderabad, highlighting the need for prompt action. 

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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