Two more polio cases confirmed in Sindh

Sindh's polio tally for 2019 climbs to 30

KARACHI: The Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) confirmed on Saturday two new polio cases that were reported from Sindh last year. Following the recent confirmation, Sindh's polio tally for 2019 has climbed to 30, raising the number of polio cases reported in Pakistan for the year to 144.

Of the two cases, one surfaced in Jacobabad and another in Mirpurkhas.

In Jacobabad, a five-year-old boy tested positive for polio, which has affected his right leg, on December 19, 2019. According to the boy's parents, he was administered seven doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV).

Another polio case surfaced in Mirpurkhas, where a four-year-old boy was found to be affected by the virus, which has weakened his right arm and leg, as well as his neck muscles. His parents too claim that his was administered OPV on multiple occasions.

The claims of the affected boys being administered OPV are being investigated.

In a bid to curb the disease, National EOC and Sindh EOC have been putting n collective efforts to vaccinate children against the disease. Several children were administered polio vaccine in December last year, during the National Immunisation Days Campaign, and another similar campaign is set to be launched this month.

Health authorities have expressed hope that with continuous efforts, from December, 2019, to April, 2020, the spread of the virus will be controlled to a significant degree. Acknowledging that it is their responsibility to deliver vaccines at the citizens' doorsteps, they have urged the parents be equally vigilant of protecting their children against polio and to get their children vaccinated under the routine immunisation programme as well as during special campaigns over the next few months.