Another polio case detected in Balochistan

QUETTA: Another case of polio has been reported in Balochistan, taking the total number of cases reported this year to six. According to the Balochistan Health Department, a 15-month-old child from Jaffarabad was diagnosed with the virus.

Sixes polio cases have been reported in Balochistan so far, including three cases from Qilla Abdullah, one from Quetta and two from Jaffarabad.

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According to the parents, the child was fine until September 15, when a high fever set in. Weakness was noticed in the child’s legs which later transformed into complete paralysis, they added.

With addition to this case, the total number of polio cases reported in the country so far this year has jumped to 72. The Balochistan Emergency Polio Centre has initiated a special polio vaccination campaign after the recent rise in cases.  Officials are hoping to control the epidemic. They said special measures are being taken in more sensitive areas including Quetta, Pishin and Qilla Abdullah.

Polio tally climbs to 72 with three new cases in Sindh, K-P and Balochistan

A large number of families in Balochistan still refuse to allow polio workers administrator polio vaccines to their children, which has become a major hurdle in eradicating the disease and a source of concern for the authorities.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2019.