QUETTA: Twenty two polio cases have been reported during the past six months in Balochistan.
In 2010, Balochistan had 11 confirmed cases of polio. This indicates an alarming increase, as Pakistan had seen a 62% increase in polio cases last year and is now witnessing an almost a three-fold increase in the current year.
Balochistan currently has the highest number of polio cases in the country with 22 confirmed polio cases so far. Balochistan crossed FATA where 20 cases have been confirmed so far.
The current polio outbreak has resulted in lifelong permanent disability of 22 children in the province and place 1.5 million children under the age of 5 years at risk of developing polio.
The sub optimal quality of campaigns and poor management in districts such as Killa Abdullah and Pishin has resulted in the diseae spreading to previously un-infected districts, including Kohlu, Khuzdar and Noshki.
The world community has already warned Pakistan about the prevailing spread of polio, and the country may face travel and funding restrictions if it fails to bring the number of cases down to zero. Pakistan stands as the only country where the number of polio cases are on the rise.
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