One more polio case surfaces in Balochistan

Since 2012, total number of polio cases reported from Balochistan has reached 49

QUETTA: Another case of poliovirus was confirmed from Balochistan’s Qilla Abdullah taking the total number of cases reported across Pakistan this year to 60.

The victim was a 17-month-old infant and reportedly contracted the virus following refusal to be administered anti-polio vaccine by his parents.

Since 2012, the total number of polio cases reported from Balochistan has reached 49, five of which were reported in 2019.

Qilla Abdullah district now has three reported polio cases, whereas Quetta and district Jaffarabad has one each.



A fresh anti-polio drive commenced in Balochistan on Monday.

Pakistan is one of just three countries in the world, along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, that have endemic polio, a once-common childhood virus that can cause paralysis or death.

The country’s success follows an intense programme based around vaccinating vulnerable children.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), polio has been all but wiped out across the world following a sustained vaccination campaign, with only 22 cases reported in 2017 against more than 350,000 in 1988.