emirates7 - Pakistan is set to launch a major vaccination campaign following the confirmation of the first polio case in the federal capital in 16 years. The new case, reported in Islamabad’s Union Council Rural 4 near the Sangjani Toll Plaza, brings the total number of polio cases in the country this year to 17, according to officials.
In addition to this confirmed wild poliovirus (WPV1) case, environmental samples from 64 districts have tested positive for the virus, indicating its presence in these areas.
The affected individual is an eight-year-old boy, marking the first polio case in Islamabad since 2008. Environmental samples from the capital and Rawalpindi district have shown the presence of WPV1 since June, highlighting the ongoing threat of polio to children’s health.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s focal person for polio eradication, described the situation as “incredibly heartbreaking” and emphasized the urgency of the response. The polio programme has engaged in comprehensive discussions with provincial and district authorities to enhance eradication efforts.
Muhammad Anwarul Haq, coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, stated that the government is intensifying its efforts to vaccinate every child, including in Islamabad.
A large-scale vaccination campaign is now scheduled to run from 9th to 13th September across 115 districts. More than 33 million children under the age of five will be targeted, with teams conducting door-to-door vaccinations. The campaign will also cover all 36 districts of Balochistan, which has reported 12 polio cases since February.
In addition to this confirmed wild poliovirus (WPV1) case, environmental samples from 64 districts have tested positive for the virus, indicating its presence in these areas.
The affected individual is an eight-year-old boy, marking the first polio case in Islamabad since 2008. Environmental samples from the capital and Rawalpindi district have shown the presence of WPV1 since June, highlighting the ongoing threat of polio to children’s health.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s focal person for polio eradication, described the situation as “incredibly heartbreaking” and emphasized the urgency of the response. The polio programme has engaged in comprehensive discussions with provincial and district authorities to enhance eradication efforts.
Muhammad Anwarul Haq, coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, stated that the government is intensifying its efforts to vaccinate every child, including in Islamabad.
A large-scale vaccination campaign is now scheduled to run from 9th to 13th September across 115 districts. More than 33 million children under the age of five will be targeted, with teams conducting door-to-door vaccinations. The campaign will also cover all 36 districts of Balochistan, which has reported 12 polio cases since February.