• Wild poliovirus type 1 crippled two-year old boy in Quetta.
• Disruption in campaign paved way for its spread: official.
• PM's focal person requests parents to ensure vaccination.

KARACHI: Sounding the alarm bell, the National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) on Thursday confirmed the 18th poliovirus case in the country this year from Quetta. 

The NEOC said it was second poliovirus case from Quetta and 13th from Balochistan this year — the highest for any province in the country.

The wild poliovirus type 1 has crippled a two-year old boy in the provincial capital.

Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) officials in Islamabad confirmed the case and highlighted the ongoing challenges of the national immunisation drive, The News reported.

Expressing concern over the rising number of polio cases, Prime Minister's Focal Person on Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq said disruption in the anti-poliovirus campaign in some of Balochistan’s neighbourhoods paved the way for the virus’ spread.

Additionally, the PM’s focal person said her department was doubling down efforts to keep the poliovirus’ spread. It was imperative to deliver multiple doses of polio vaccines to every child, she added.

"Measures are being taken to protect children from infectious diseases like polio," she maintained, appealing the parents to ensure vaccination of children up to five years.

So far, environmental samples have detected the presence of poliovirus in 66 districts across Pakistan, underscoring the persistent threat of the virus even in areas where no clinical cases have been reported.

The resurgence of polio in Balochistan and other regions presents a significant setback for the country’s efforts to eradicate the disease, as officials work to bolster vaccination campaigns and raise public awareness about the importance of immunisation.

Nevertheless, health officials continue to stress the importance of reaching every child with the life-saving polio vaccine to prevent the virus from further crippling children.

Polio, a preventable disease, continues to threaten children in vulnerable areas like Balochistan, causing paralysis until fully eradicated, prompting PEI officials to intensify vaccination efforts to curb the virus and safeguard future generations.