ISLAMABAD : The total poliovirus tally in Pakistan this year soared to 28 as authorities confirmed two fresh cases of the intensifying crippling disease.
The two children, including a 36-month-old girl from district Zhob in Balochistan and a seven-month-old girl from Tank in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), were left paralysed by the wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1).
The onset of the virus in the toddler from Zhob was reported on September 6, while the baby in Tank showed symptoms of virus on September 17.
The virus was found in the sewage samples from both districts previously, indicating continued polio transmission and risk to children’s health.
With the latest confirmed cases of poliovirus, the tally in KP reached three, while in Balochistan, it has now climbed to 16. Meanwhile, seven cases have been reported from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad so far.
Balochistan, with the highest number of confirmed cases this year, has become the epicentre of the polio outbreak.
Taking notice of the latest polio case reported in Zhob, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has sought an inquiry report from the provincial health department. “Every new case of polio causes pain and concern,” said the CM, directing the health department to initiate a special anti-polio campaign.
The chief minister also urged parents to vaccinate their children to eliminate the disease.
The latest cases were confirmed by the Regional Reference Laboratory at the National Institute of Health.