Polio suspect: Samples of infant sent for lab tests

Baby developed tremors in her lower extremities, doctors says she might have polio.

FAISALABAD: Samples of a seven-month-old baby suspected of contracting polio have been sent to a laboratory for tests. Chaman, a resident of Chak 742-GB, Pir Mehal in Toba Tek Singh district, told media persons on Monday that his daughter Areeba had developed tremors in her lower extremities. He took her to a hospital where doctors said she might have polio. When asked why he hadn’t gotten his daughter vaccinated against polio, he said that he had heard about anti-polio drives in the city but nobody had visited his house. Anti-Polio Programme District Surveillance Coordinator Raja Nasar Iqbal confirmed that the baby had developed problems in her lower limbs and was suspected of contracting polio.  He said the laboratory report will confirm whether she has the virus. “We will check on the team that visited Chak 472-GB. Strict action will be taken against the team if they had not visited Chaman’s house,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25^th, 2014.