Islamabad : Amidst efforts to combat poliovirus, Pakistan grapples with the emergence of the third polio case of the year, raising alarm bells across health authorities, Dawn reported.
On Saturday, Pakistan confirmed the third polio case of the current year, adding to the ongoing battle against the crippling disease. Alongside, three more environmental samples tested positive for polio, heightening concerns about the prevalence of the virus.
The latest victim, a 12-year-old girl from the Kili Malak Haqdad area of Darozai Union Council in Balochistan’s Killa Abdullah district, succumbed to the relentless grip of polio. Her journey into paralysis was marked by fever, followed by pain on the right side of her body and vomiting, preceding the onset of paralysis.
Despite no history of trauma or intramuscular injection, she experienced weakness in her limbs, signalling the cruel onset of the disease.
A seasoned polio expert, speaking anonymously, voiced grave concerns over the resurgence of the virus in key regions, including Karachi, Quetta, and Peshawar-Khyber.
Despite extensive vaccination campaigns, the virus has found refuge in these areas, posing a formidable challenge to eradication efforts. The latest case from Quetta block serves as a stark reminder of the uphill battle against polio, with implications resonating far beyond Pakistan’s borders.