Pakistan faces a renewed battle against the crippling polio virus, while Balochistan is witnessing an alarming rise in cases.
Within 24 hours, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) confirmed a second case of polio with the latest victim, a four-and-a-half-year-old child from the Chaman region of Balochistan, succumbing to the debilitating effects of the poliovirus.
The affected child, while innocently playing, suddenly collapsed on February 29, requiring immediate medical attention. Subsequent examinations at the hospital revealed the grim reality of polio infection and underlined the relentless reach of the virus even within local communities.
Notably, the victim had not ventured outside the region in the previous 35 days, indicating an alarming pattern of polio transmission in the Balochistan environment.
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On March 14, polio reared its head in Dera Bugti, breaking a 13-year hiatus with the diagnosis of a two-and-a-half-year-old child. Symptoms of fever and weakness initially signaled concern, leading to a comprehensive medical examination on 22 February.
The subsequent confirmation of type 1 polio has thrown health authorities into a race against time to contain further spread in the district.
In response to this alarming development, health officials mobilized large-scale vaccination campaigns and intensified surveillance measures to thwart the inexorable advance of polio.
However, the sporadic resurgence of polio underscores the ongoing challenges facing Pakistan, particularly in regions that struggle with limited access to basic health services.
