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Arab News
a day ago
- Health
- Arab News
Pakistan says will explore ‘new solutions' in polio eradication as cases hit 19 in 2025
KARACHI: Pakistan will adopt new approaches in its fight against polio as the country confirmed its 19th virus case of the year, the country's top polio official said on Friday, stressing the need for accountability and innovation ahead of the next nationwide vaccination drive next month. Pakistan recorded its 19th polio case of the year this week after a five-month-old child tested positive in the northwestern Lakki Marwat district. Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries where polio is still endemic. Islamabad made significant progress in curbing the virus, with annual cases falling from around 20,000 in the early 1990s to just eight in 2018. Pakistan reported six cases in 2023 and only one in 2021, but the virus resurged sharply in 2024 with 74 reported cases. 'We will work differently this year, moving beyond traditional approaches and exploring new solutions,' said Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister's Focal Person on Polio, after chairing a meeting of the National Polio Management Team in Islamabad. The meeting brought together the National Emergency Operations Center, provincial polio coordinators and international eradication partners to review the situation across all four provinces. 'The spread of the poliovirus has increased, but work is continuing toward improvement,' Farooq added. 'The period before a polio campaign is crucial for results.' Health authorities will begin the next nationwide polio vaccination campaign on September 1, with a special focus on high-risk and priority areas including southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Farooq directed teams in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the worst hit province with 12 of the total 19 cases, to address security challenges in its southern districts and emphasized maintaining efforts in both high-risk hotspots and better-performing areas. 'Polio eradication requires real accountability at every level,' she said, adding that collaboration with routine immunization programs remained critical. Pakistan's efforts to eradicate the virus have been repeatedly undermined by vaccine misinformation and resistance from some religious hard-liners who claim that immunization is a foreign plot to sterilize Muslim children or a cover for Western espionage. Militant groups also frequently target polio vaccination teams, and the security personnel assigned to protect them, particularly in the KP and Balochistan provinces.
Axios
3 days ago
- Health
- Axios
St. Pete installs Aquafence ahead of peak hurricane season
The City of St. Petersburg installed an Aquafence flood barrier system at one of its downtown lift stations, which collects wastewater for about a quarter of the city's population. Why it matters: The installation of the flood barrier comes as the height of hurricane season nears, and after city officials had to shut off two of its sewer treatment plants because of Hurricane Milton. The big picture: Lift Station 85 provides wastewater services to the city's hospitals, assisted living facilities, hurricane shelters and Emergency Operations Center, according to a press release. The flood barrier is intended to protect the lift station from storm surge and ultimately minimize service interruptions. Flashback: AquaFence went viral last year as footage showed the flood barrier system protecting Tampa General Hospital from Hurricane Helene's storm surge. The company opened an office in Tampa earlier this year.
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Sand and dust storm sweeps across southern Peru
Strong winds from a South Pacific anticyclone triggered a massive sand and dust storm in southern Peru on Thursday, catching residents in coastal regions by surprise, authorities said. Peru's national weather service said wind gusts reached up to 50 kilometers (31 miles) per hour in the Ica region, about 400 kilometers south of Lima. The storm in Ica forced traffic to a halt on highways and disrupted tourism activities for three hours. The effects of the unusual weather event were also felt in the regions of Arequipa, Moquegua, and Tacna -- which borders Chile -- where winds reached up to 32 kilometers an hour. Similarly strong winds were also recorded in the capital Lima, causing some trees to fall. "This event was caused by the South Pacific anticyclone, which has intensified and is currently very close to the continent, generating high-speed downdrafts at the surface," Rosario Julca of the national weather service told Canal N television. "An anticyclone is a clockwise circulation in the Pacific Ocean that, when it nears the continent, increases wind speeds," she added. According to Julca, the presence of such "downdrafts, combined with the desert terrain, has generated a sudden and massive dust uprising." The weather agency said the "increase in wind speed, ranging from moderate to strong intensity," is expected to continue along the Peruvian coast through Sunday. The National Emergency Operations Center said that local authorities are assessing the damage. cm-cdl/tym
Express Tribune
27-07-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
From crisis to control: Balochistan's polio breakthrough
Balochistan is witnessing a remarkable turnaround in its battle against poliovirus, with 2025 marking a period of steady progress and renewed hope. Once grappling with some of the country's highest poliovirus transmission rates, the province now shows a significant decline in environmental surveillance positivity and—most notably—has not reported a single wild poliovirus case so far this year. In 2024, Balochistan faced an alarming situation: all 23 of its environmental surveillance (ES) sites tested positive for poliovirus, pushing the provincial positivity rate to 72%. The crisis peaked in September when 95% of samples were positive and five cases of wild poliovirus were confirmed. The Quetta Block, a historically high-risk area, recorded an alarming 98% positivity rate—sparking serious concern among public health officials. However, since late 2024, a steady and promising decline has emerged. By June 2025, only 4 out of 23 environmental samples tested positive, reflecting a sharp drop in positivity to 17%. This downward trend is a result of strengthened surveillance, timely interventions, and consistent community engagement, signaling a major shift in the province's epidemiological landscape. When viewed against the national backdrop, Balochistan's progress stands out. In Sindh, environmental surveillance positivity rose from 70% in 2024 to 84% in 2025, with the Karachi Block still struggling—reporting 94% positivity this year and 83% in June alone. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has reported 22 polio cases in 2024 and 8 more in 2025, mostly concentrated in its southern belt. Sindh has confirmed 4 new cases this year after reporting 23 in 2024, while Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan have reported one case each. In contrast, Balochistan's zero-case status in 2025 is a notable public health milestone. Officials attribute this success to an integrated approach combining high-quality immunization campaigns, community trust-building efforts, and the unwavering commitment of health workers, government authorities, and partner organizations. 'This progress reflects the resilience and dedication of everyone involved—from frontline vaccinators to local leaders,' said Inamul Haque, Coordinator of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Balochistan. Religious leaders have played a pivotal role, using Friday sermons and local gatherings to encourage vaccination. Media partners have countered misinformation and amplified credible voices, while development agencies have provided technical and logistical support. The provincial government and district administrations have demonstrated strong ownership, ensuring each campaign is thoroughly planned, resourced, and monitored. Initiatives like the Immunity Express, journalist engagement at the divisional level, community outreach by social mobilizers, and localized engagement activities have played a key role in increasing vaccine acceptance—especially in historically resistant areas. 'Environmental sample positivity is declining—and that gives us hope,' added Inamul Haque. 'But the virus still lurks. The moment we become complacent, it will strike again.' As Balochistan moves forward, its progress serves as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through unity, persistence, and public trust. Mohammad Zafar Baloch is a freelance journalist based in Quetta All facts and information are the sole responsibility of the writer
Saba Yemen
08-07-2025
- Saba Yemen
Lebanon: Two killed, three wounded in Israeli enemy airstrike
Beirut – Saba: Two Lebanese citizens were killed, and three others were injured on Tuesday in an airstrike by the Israeli enemy aircraft targeting a car in northern Lebanon. The Lebanese Health Ministry's Emergency Operations Center stated in a preliminary report that "the enemy Israeli airstrike on a vehicle in Al-Irouniyah – Tripoli resulted in two fatalities and three wounded." Earlier, Lebanon's National News Agency reported that hostile aircraft targeted a CRV-type car with two missiles in the Al-Irouniyah area – Zgharta District, on the Zgharta-Dinnieh road. The agency added that Lebanese Army personnel arrived at the scene and imposed a security cordon amid the presence of hostile reconnaissance drones. Facebook Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
