Poliovirus raised alarm bells in Bahawalpur also after four years as it was found in environmental samples of tehsil Ahmadpur of Bahawalpur while another child was affected and disabled in Quetta, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.
As per details, the decision was made to run a polio campaign in three tehsils of Bahawalpur.
The Polio campaign will start on June 10 in Tehsil Ahmadpur Sharqiya, Tehsil Sadar, and City.
According to the District Health Officer Preventive Services (DHO-PS), the polio virus is not endemic to Bahawalpur as all the samples taken earlier were polio-negative.
“Environmental samples are tested every six months,” said Dr. Khalid Chanar.
“Poliovirus suspected to have moved from Karachi to Bahawalpur”, he said.
“During the polio campaign, 526,000 children will be polio vaccinated”, Dr. Khalid Chanar added.
A 2-year-old child disabled by polio in Quetta
A two-year-old child disabled by polio in the Union Council Reconstruction Ganj Bypass area of Quetta, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
As per details, a total of five kids have been affected by the polio virus in Pakistan till now, four in Balochistan and one in Sindh.
Following the rise in polio-positive samples, new cases are expected to emerge from across the country.
Polio virus has been confirmed in 174 environmental samples of 44 districts in Pakistan.
A five-day anti-polio campaign has started in Dera Bugti
A five-day anti-polio campaign started in Dera Bugti, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Saturday.
According to details, Deputy Commissioner Ejaz Sarwar inaugurated the polio campaign by giving polio drops to children.
District Health Officer (DHO) of Dera Bugti, Dr. Azam John Bugti said, “More than 80,000 children under five years of age will be given polio drops in 18 union councils of the district”.
“225 mobile teams, 16 transit points, and 24 fixed sites have been arranged for the polio campaign,” said Dr. Azam Bugti.
Further, he added, “Parents should cooperate with polio teams making sure their children will be polio vaccinated as it’s only possible to defeat this dangerous disease with polio vaccine.”
Reporter: Tahir Joya, Babar Shahzad and Arif Bugti