Fourth polio case surfaces in Karachi

Health minster says Pakistan had the world’s most sensitive polio surveillance system

ISLAMABAD:

The Ministry of Health on Saturday reported that a 24-month-old child had been diagnosed with polio in Karachi, marking the fourth case in Pakistan this year.

Caretaker Health Minister Dr Nadeem Jan said Pakistan had the world’s most sensitive polio surveillance system, as rapid confirmation of the virus in environmental samples demonstrated that the system was working efficiently.

He reiterated that the government had promised emergency measures to eradicate polio.

Meanwhile, the virus was confirmed in environmental samples from four cities of Pakistan – Karachi, Rawalpindi, Chaman and Peshawar.

Genetic testing revealed that the virus found in all the samples belonged to the poliovirus cluster in Afghanistan.

Jan warned that the presence of virus in the environment was a threat to every child.