Latest news with #PolioEradicationProgramme
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan reports its first polio case
Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan has reported its first polio case of the year, even as a vaccination team escaped unhurt in an armed attack in the region, an official said on Monday. The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health in Islamabad confirmed the new case of wild poliovirus in Gilgit-Baltistan's Diamer district. Gilgit Baltistan Health Secretary, Asifullah Khan, said that a 23-month-old child was diagnosed with poliovirus in the Tangir area of the district, adding that the virus strain originated from Karachi's Liaquatabad area. He said it was not clear how the child was infected as he had not travelled out of the Tangir area. This is the first case of wild poliovirus reported from Gilgit-Baltistan and the 11th confirmed case in Pakistan this year, according to the country's Polio Eradication Programme. Before the latest case, Gilgit-Baltistan was declared a polio-free zone. The case surfaced after the third nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2025, which began on May 26, concluded on Sunday after successfully administering the vaccine to over 45 million children across the country. Meanwhile, unknown gunmen opened fire on a polio vaccination team in Sheikho village of Tangir Valley on Sunday. However, they remained safe. Gilgit-Baltistan government spokesperson Faizullah Firaq said the polio team visited the area "without informing the police", leading to the "unfortunate" incident. He said the team was safely evacuated. Pakistan is the only country, after Afghanistan, where poliovirus is still rampant despite government efforts to eradicate it.
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Health
- Business Recorder
Gilgit-Baltistan registers first case of polio this year
Gilgit-Baltistan reported its first case of wild poliovirus in District Diamer, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health confirmed on Monday. This is the 11th case in Pakistan this year. The third nationwide polio vaccination campaign began on May 26, and concluded on Sunday. 'The campaign successfully reached over 45 million children under five years of age across 159 districts, including high-risk areas of the country,' the Pakistan's Polio Eradication Programme said in a notification. Earlier, President Asif Ali Zardari urged the citizens, including the media, teachers, religious scholars and the community, to create awareness and extend their support to the polio vaccination drive and dispel the allied misconceptions to achieve a polio-free Pakistan. 'I call on parents to open their doors to vaccinators, ensuring every child receives the life-saving polio drops. I urge teachers, religious leaders, and community elders to champion this noble cause, dispelling myths and building trust. I appeal to the media to amplify the truth: the polio vaccine is safe, effective, and our best weapon,' the president Tuesday said in his message on the occasion of the countrywide polio eradication campaign launched on Monday targeting 45.4 million under-five children.
Express Tribune
22-02-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Pakistan reports third polio case of 2025 in Sindh
Listen to article Pakistan has confirmed its third case of wild polio virus Type 1 in 2025, with the latest case reported from the Larkana district in Sindh province. This marks the second polio case in Sindh this year, bringing the total number of cases in the province to two, while Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has reported one case, Express News reported. According to the Polio Eradication Programme, 74 polio cases were reported across the country in 2024, with the highest number from Balochistan (27 cases), followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (22 cases), Sindh (23 cases), and one each from Punjab and Islamabad. The first nationwide polio campaign of 2025, held from February 3 to 9, successfully reached 99% of its targets, vaccinating over 45 million children against the virus. Currently, Pakistan is in the midst of its second round of catch-up activities, focusing on administering EPI antigens to children under the age of five. In line with the Pakistan Polio Programme, a fractional IPV-OPV polio campaign is being launched in the Quetta Division and Karachi on February 20 and 22, aiming to vaccinate approximately 1 million children. Despite these ongoing efforts, the country continues to face challenges in eliminating the virus, with cases emerging in different regions, underlining the need for continued vigilance and vaccination drives
