Islamabad reports first polio case in 16 years

A polio case has been reported in Islamabad for the first time in 16 years, with health authorities confirming the virus in a child from Union Council 4. This marks the 17th case of polio in Pakistan this year.

"Unfortunately, another Pakistani child has been affected by polio" said Ayesha Raza Farooq, Prime Minister's Focal Person for Polio Eradication, expressing concern over the case.

She emphasized the government's commitment to controlling the spread of the virus, highlighting a comprehensive roadmap for eradication.

Moreover, Anwar Haq, Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre, stated that efforts to deliver polio vaccines to every child are being intensified.

From September 9-13, the Polio Programme will launch a large-scale vaccination campaign across 115 districts to vaccinate 33 million children under the age of five.

Vaccinators will go door-to-door to deliver the oral polio vaccine (OPV), to reach children in hard-to-reach and underserved areas.

Ayesha Raza urged parents to ensure their children are vaccinated, emphasising that repeated doses of the OPV are essential to protect against the virus.

Previously, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health confirmed that samples collected between August 13-20 from Attock, South Waziristan Lower, Tank, Peshawar, and six districts of Karachi contained the wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1).

The virus has now spread to 64 districts across Pakistan, affecting all four provinces and one district in Azad Jammu Kashmir.

This year alone, WPV1 has paralysed 16 children, with the latest case reported in Hyderabad, where a 29-month-old child had been affected.

Despite efforts to eradicate the virus, polio continues to pose a significant threat.

The country has conducted four vaccination campaigns this year, but the persistence of WPV1 in environmental samples indicates inefficiencies in coverage and outreach.

The virus has disproportionately affected Balochistan, where 12 cases have been reported, followed by Sindh with three cases and Punjab with one.

The large-scale campaign starting on September 9 aims to address these gaps, reaching millions of children who remain vulnerable to polio.