Anti-polio campaign: Four suspected polio cases reported in Mansehra

EDO maintains that the cases are being kept under observation while tests are underway.

MANSEHRA:

Four cases of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) have been reported from Oghi in Mansehra District, official sources told The Express Tribune on Monday. The cases were detected during the ongoing campaign for eradication of poliomyelitis and reported in the monthly surveillance report of health authorities.

Officials said that the cases were detected during routine surveillance of children below 15 years of age with symptoms of paralytic illness and the patients were kept under observation. The most recent case was that of Sehrish Bibi, 6, daughter of Qalandar Shah of Kanotri village.

Shah informed health officials that his daughter complained of severe pain in both legs and her movement was restricted about one and a half month back. He took her to King Abdullah Teaching Hospital and later she was admitted to Combined Military Hospital Abbottabad for some days. However, there was no improvement in her condition and she was unable to move her legs. Her parents had reservations over the efficacy of polio drops, saying that despite having been vaccinated, she was still experiencing problems.

Meanwhile, Executive District Officer Health Dr Siddiqui Rehman said that a surveillance system for detection and eradication of poliomyelitis was functioning effectively in the district and health officials and teams of WHO were closely monitoring the areas. He added that AFP or paralytic illness could not be branded as polio unless a patient is properly examined through different tests, starting from 15 days after the onset of symptoms to 60 days. He said that the reason behind AFP could be administering of wrong medication or some other medical problem but not polio alone.

Rehman maintained that Sehrish’s case was not of polio, however, he said the girl has been put under observation and concerned officials of the WHO have been informed who will soon conduct tests to determine the reason behind her paralytic illness.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2012.