Two more cases reported in K-P, FATA
Another case reported in Mardan district.
PESHAWAR/GHALLANAI:
A polio case was reported in Mohmand Agency on Tuesday. This is the first case in the area this year.
Mohmand Agency’s coordinator for the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Dr Shabir told The Express Tribune that the dreaded virus was confirmed in 14-month-old Hafsa, a resident of Pandiali tehsil.
He said the case had been confirmed by the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad. The child had been administered 18 doses, but despite the immunisation she was found polio positive. Shabbir added that low immunity, poor hygiene, and side effects of medicines may have resulted in the disease.
The doctor claimed that no refusal case has been reported across the agency due to the support of local tribesmen in various areas. “The support shows why no case was reported in the past. This is the first case in the agency this year,” he added.
Bajaur Agency, which borders with this area of Mohmand Agency, has had three cases in 2012, while in K-P a total of 21 cases have been reported so far.
In Pakistan, 57 cases have been registered this year, while in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, the number stands at 20. The next phase of the polio drive will be launched next month after it was postponed due to security concerns in Muharram.
Meanwhile, another polio case was reported in Mardan district, where 18-month-old Suleman has contracted the virus. The child had spent more than a month in Karachi between October and November and neither the K-P nor Sindh government want to take responsibility for the matter.
Executive District Officer (Health) Dr Ayub Roz told The Express Tribune that there was no possibly of him contracting the virus in Mardan, where he had returned to only 10 days before.
Roz said the child had not received a single dose of polio vaccine, adding that the family may have refused to have it administered.
The EDO also said that the child had missed immunisation days from October 16 to 18 in the district. “We have collected his stool samples and sent them to the NIH.”
Three-day drive
All arrangements have been finalised for a three-day polio campaign scheduled on Thursday in Khyber Agency. More than 263,000 children below five years of age will be vaccinated. Agency Surgeon Dr Samin Khan told journalists in a ceremony held at the Civil Hospital Jamrud on Tuesday that 485 teams have been constituted for the drive, which will visit people door-to- door.
WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2012.
A polio case was reported in Mohmand Agency on Tuesday. This is the first case in the area this year.
Mohmand Agency’s coordinator for the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Dr Shabir told The Express Tribune that the dreaded virus was confirmed in 14-month-old Hafsa, a resident of Pandiali tehsil.
He said the case had been confirmed by the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad. The child had been administered 18 doses, but despite the immunisation she was found polio positive. Shabbir added that low immunity, poor hygiene, and side effects of medicines may have resulted in the disease.
The doctor claimed that no refusal case has been reported across the agency due to the support of local tribesmen in various areas. “The support shows why no case was reported in the past. This is the first case in the agency this year,” he added.
Bajaur Agency, which borders with this area of Mohmand Agency, has had three cases in 2012, while in K-P a total of 21 cases have been reported so far.
In Pakistan, 57 cases have been registered this year, while in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, the number stands at 20. The next phase of the polio drive will be launched next month after it was postponed due to security concerns in Muharram.
Meanwhile, another polio case was reported in Mardan district, where 18-month-old Suleman has contracted the virus. The child had spent more than a month in Karachi between October and November and neither the K-P nor Sindh government want to take responsibility for the matter.
Executive District Officer (Health) Dr Ayub Roz told The Express Tribune that there was no possibly of him contracting the virus in Mardan, where he had returned to only 10 days before.
Roz said the child had not received a single dose of polio vaccine, adding that the family may have refused to have it administered.
The EDO also said that the child had missed immunisation days from October 16 to 18 in the district. “We have collected his stool samples and sent them to the NIH.”
Three-day drive
All arrangements have been finalised for a three-day polio campaign scheduled on Thursday in Khyber Agency. More than 263,000 children below five years of age will be vaccinated. Agency Surgeon Dr Samin Khan told journalists in a ceremony held at the Civil Hospital Jamrud on Tuesday that 485 teams have been constituted for the drive, which will visit people door-to- door.
WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP
Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2012.