Balochistan’s first polio case of year confirmed

Crippling virus surfaces despite recent launching of immunisation campaigns in several districts of the province

QUETTA: A fresh case of polio disease emerged in Balochistan as a two-year-old boy was diagnosed with the crippling disease on Tuesday.

The virus surfaced in Quetta’s Samungli area, with an official confirming that it was the first case of the year 2016.

According to Coordinator Emergency Operation Centre Dr Syed Saifur Rehman, environmental samples of the virus from Qilla Abdullah were found to be positive.



The provincial government is conducting immunisation campaigns in the province every two months to eradicate the virus, Rehman said while urging parents to cooperate with the vaccinators.

The total number of polio cases in Pakistan this year has now reached three, while seven cases were reported from Balochistan in 2015.

Earlier at the advent of a vaccination on February 15, Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri appealed local body representatives, political and tribal leaders as well as religious scholars to make immunisation a success.



The campaign focused on Pishin, Quetta, Qilla Saifullah, Loralai, Khuzdar, Qilla Abdullah, Sherani, Lasbella, Barkhan, Zhob, Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Musa Khel, Jhal Magsi and Dera Bugti districts.