Sixth polio case confirmed in Sindh

The child had received seven doses of the anti-polio vaccine, did not receive routine immunisation

KARACHI: The emergence of another polio case was confirmed in Sindh on Saturday, as a young boy tested positive for the crippling virus.

The latest patient is a 30-month-old boy who is a resident of Cheel UC in Kashmore. The virus, with a date of onset of February 3, has affected the child’s right leg. According to his parents, he had received seven doses of the anti-polio vaccine, but did not receive routine immunisation.

During the seven-day-long vaccination campaign in Karachi last week, 2.15 million children under the age of five years were administered the polio vaccine, while the set goal had been 2.3 million children.

Moreover, a separate campaign was launched in the remaining districts of Sindh on Monday, with a target to administer the polio vaccine to 6.7 million children aged under five. The polio vaccination drive will end today (Sunday).

There have been 18 polio cases reported in Pakistan so far this year, while six polio cases have surfaced in Sindh alone since the beginning of 2020.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2020.