First polio case of 2015 emerges in Balochistan

Twenty six months old infant detected with crippling virus in Brab Chah area of Chagai district

QUETTA: The year 2015 started with the emergence of a new polio case in Balochistan when a 26-month-old infant was detected with the crippling virus in Brab Chah area of Chagai district on Thursday.

A number of 22 polio cases were reported in 2014 in the province while this is the first case of 2015.

The victim was identified as Muhammad Shafi living in the union council of Aamari, an official confirmed.

The boy was reportedly not administered polio drops during the routine immunisation campaign.

Cases mainly surfaced in Balochistan’s Quetta zone - comprising Quetta, Pishin and Qila Abdullah - but lately the nearby districts such as Khuzdar and Chagai were also found affected as a result of the poor immunisation campaign in the province.

It was only two years ago - in 2010 -  that two cases were reported in the district of Chagai.

Whereas, 12 cases were reported in Qila Abdullah, five in Quetta, one each in Zhob, Khuzdar, Killa Saifullah, Pishin and Nasirabad.

Quetta's polio campaign was essentially suspended due to the security threats a few days ago.