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ISLAMABAD: Four other cases of poliomyelitis have been reported, two from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing the total number of cases to 45.
An official at the National Institute of Health's (NIH) Poliovirus Virology Laboratory said cases had been reported in Lahore, Jhelum, Bannu and Lakki Marwat.
"In Lahore, a nine-month-old boy, a four-year-old girl in Jhelum, a six-month-old boy in Bannu and Lakki Marwat, a 12-month-old girl, were confirmed with the disabling disease virus. Stool samples were received last month but were confirmed on Sunday, with the virus incubation period being about three weeks, "he said.
During the current year, 45 cases of poliomyelitis were confirmed, compared with 12 last year.
It should be noted that during the current year, 45 cases of poliomyelitis were confirmed, compared with 12 in 2018 and only eight in 2017.
When contacted, the Prime Minister's correspondent for polio eradication, Babar Bin Atta, confirmed that four more children were infected with the disabling disease virus.
"However, some positive things have been brought together. Jhelum's four-year-old daughter suffered a stroke, which resulted in a decrease in her immunity. The girl was paralyzed because of her stroke. As the poliovirus was found in her sample, she was declared polio case. However, this shows that the girl was attacked by the virus because her level of immunity had decreased. Secondly, it shows that our level of surveillance is very high, "he said.
"As for the nine-month-old Lahore boy, he is not paralyzed, although the poliovirus has been confirmed in his sample. This shows that the level of immunity of the child was very high, which allowed him not to be paralyzed, "he said.
Mr. Babar said that investigations of Bannu and Lakki Marwat's cases revealed that the children had not received any polio drops. On the first day of the polio campaigns held in their area, their parents marked their children's fingers with markers to avoid immunization officers that their children had already been vaccinated, he added.
It is worth mentioning that during the current year, 35 cases of poliomyelitis were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and its tribal districts, five in Punjab, three in Sindh and two in Baluchistan.
Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious disease caused by poliovirus that mainly affects children under five. It invades the nervous system and can cause paralysis or even death. Although poliomyelitis can not be cured, vaccination is the most effective way to protect children from this debilitating disease. Whenever a child under five is vaccinated, its protection against the virus is enhanced. Repeated vaccinations have protected millions of children from polio, allowing almost every country in the world to get rid of polio.
Posted in Dawn, on July 15, 2019
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