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Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Health
- Business Recorder
NEOC for kids' vaccination against poliovirus as two new cases detected
ISLAMABAD: Following the detection of two fresh poliovirus cases the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has urged parents to get their children vaccinated against the disease. The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme (PPEP), Monday, reported two more poliovirus positive cases in the country as regional reference laboratory for polio eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) has confirmed one case from District Kohistan Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), and the other from District Badin, Sindh. According to the PPEP, the latest cases involve a six years old girl from Union Council Pattan in District Kohistan Lower and a 21-month-oldgirl from Union Council Matli-2 in District Badin. With these detections, the total number of polio cases in Pakistan in 2025 has reached 21 with 13 from KPK, six from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan. This year, three cases each have been reported from District Bannu and Lakki Marwat, two each from Tank and North Waziristan districts; one each from Torgha, DI Khan and lower Kohistan. In Sindh, two cases have been reported from Badin; while one each case from Larkana, Kambar, Thatta, and Umer Kot districts, while one case was reported in District Mandi Bahauddin of Punjab, and one case was reported from District Diamer of G-B. In 2024, Pakistan has reported a total of 74 polio cases, of which, 27 in Balochistan, 23 in KPK, 22 in Sindh, and one each in Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). According to health professionals, to eradicate poliovirus from the country, the federal and provincial authorities besides, polio vaccination drive should start cleaning sewerage as wild poliovirus is spreading through the sewerage. It is crucial for communities to understand that poliovirus can re-emerge wherever immunity gaps persist. Every unvaccinated child remains vulnerable and can also contribute to the spread of the virus. Polio is a highly infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. The only effective protection is through repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) for every child under five during each campaign, along with the timely completion of all essential immunisations. Despite significant improvements in the quality of polio vaccination campaigns nationwide, the southern districts of KPK remain a key area of concern due to restricted access and operational challenges in conducting house-to-house vaccination. These barriers continue to hinder immunisation efforts in southern KPK, leaving thousands of children unvaccinated. It is crucial for communities to understand that repeated vaccination is essential to protect every child against poliovirus. Multiple doses are needed to build and maintain immunity. Every unvaccinated child remains at risk and may contribute to further transmission of the virus. The government has announced of launching a sub-national polio vaccination campaign starting from September 1 to 7, 2025, targeting more than 28 million children under the age of five in 99 districts across all provinces and regions. The campaign in southern KPK will be conducted from 15 September. The goal is to ensure every child in these districts receives the vaccine to protect them from the lifelong consequences of polio. This campaign is part of ongoing efforts to quickly strengthen immunity among children and close existing protection gaps. Parents and caregivers are strongly urged to ensure their children receive the polio vaccine during this and every campaign. Polio eradication is a shared responsibility. While frontline health workers continue to deliver critical vaccines to children, parents and caregivers play an important role by ensuring their children receive all recommended doses of the polio vaccine and complete their routine immunisations. Communities can protect their children by actively supporting vaccination efforts, countering misinformation, and encouraging others to vaccinate. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
United News of India
13-08-2025
- Health
- United News of India
Pak reports decline in +ve polio samples
Islamabad, Aug 13 (UNI) Pakistan has recorded a decline in the presence of the polio virus in environmental samples, the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) said here on Tuesday. Out of 127 sewage samples collected from 87 districts, only 42 tested positive for the virus, while 75 samples were polio-free. Results for 10 samples are still awaited. All tests were conducted at the National Institute of Health's Polio Regional Laboratory in Islamabad, which plays a key role in monitoring environmental surveillance to detect poliovirus circulation, Pakistani media reported. As of now, the total number of polio cases in the country has risen to 19 in 2025, as per Samaa news. Last week, the regional laboratory of the National Institute of Health (NIH) had confirmed the presence of poliovirus in a young child. This was the 12th case reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) this year. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains one of the hardest-hit provinces in the fight against polio. UNI XC GNK
Business Recorder
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PM assails India for weaponising water
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday accused India of weaponising water, warning that New Delhi could not unilaterally back out of the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) – a move Islamabad views as a direct threat to regional stability. 'The enemy is trying to use water as a weapon,' Sharif said, in an unmistakable reference to India, during a visit to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). 'We will not allow unilateral action on the Indus Waters Treaty.' Sharif's remarks come amid rising concerns in Islamabad over India's recent posture on transboundary water rights, a flashpoint that could escalate further under mounting climate stress and geopolitical rivalry. Amid the warning, Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan's resolve to build non-controversial water reservoirs including the long-delayed Diamer-Bhasha Dam, using its own resources. 'Pakistan will not beg. We will build, and we will do so with dignity,' he added. He also delivered a scathing critique of climate injustice, noting that Pakistan contributes little to global emissions yet finds itself on the frontline of climate catastrophe. 'We are now on the map of nations vulnerable to cloudbursts and glacial bursts – events we did not cause, but must now survive,' he said. Sharif's comments came against the backdrop of last week's devastating floods in Swat Valley, which killed at least 49 people and left dozens injured. He called the tragedy 'a national wound,' demanding a detailed review that rises above political fault lines. 'The entire nation mourns Swat incident. Let this not be buried in bureaucracy or politics,' he said, directing NDMA to compile a comprehensive report and design coordinated disaster strategies with provincial authorities. Sharif praised the modernisation of the NDMA following the catastrophic 2022 floods, which he said wiped out homes and crops over thousands of acres. He lauded the agency's role in early warning and risk awareness but stressed the need for greater preparedness amid worsening climate shocks. Touring the NEOC's upgraded facilities, he promised federal government's support to scale up disaster response and resilience. He said he had already instructed Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik to pursue global grants and public-private partnerships to fund resilient infrastructure – 'not loans, but investments,' he emphasised. 'Pakistan must be ready. The next disaster will not wait for red tape,' he warned. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
28-04-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Polio virus detected in 44 districts
Polio virus has been detected in 22 out of 34 environmental samples collected from 44 districts across Pakistan, officials said on Monday. A total of 56 environmental samples were collected, out of which 34 samples tested negative, while 22 confirmed the presence of the polio virus. The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) stated that there has been a significant reduction in the virus's spread following vaccination campaigns conducted in February and April this year. During this year's second nationwide polio campaign, over 45.3 million children were administered oral polio vaccine drops.
