Poliovirus claims infant’s life in DG Khan

An eight-month-old baby died after being tested positive for the poliovirus near Choti area of Dera Ghazi Khan.

This year, the number of polio cases has increased to three. The details revealed that two new polio cases have been confirmed by the National Institute of Health in Punjab, one in Bahawalpur and the other in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Reportedly, eight-month-old Muhammad Imran whose samples were sent on August 17, 2020, confirmed the presence of the poliovirus in the child who’s a resident of Choti Ki Basti Nawa in Dera Ghazi Khan.

The initial reports stated that the baby's legs and lungs were affected on which the child was brought to the teaching hospital for treatment where Imran remained under treatment for eight days and died.

Apart from this case, the number of cases from different parts of the district is three this year. Secretary health suspended the deputy district health officer and two vaccinators and ordered an inquiry.

Further information revealed that when the child was brought for treatment due to respiratory problems, the condition of the child's lungs in the tests was also said to be critical and HIV was also suspected, after which more tests were sent to the laboratory.

However, the child died after 8 days of the treatment.

When contacted, Health Chief Executive Officer Dr Khalil Ahmad Khan Sukhani said that the child's report has been received which confirms Poliovirus. “Special teams have been sent to the areas that are administrating polio vaccine,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd, 2020.