Islamabad, Aug 18
Two new cases of polio have been detected in Pakistan, according to the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH). One polio case has been reported in Lower Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while another one has been detected in Sindh's Badin district, local media reported on Monday.
The new cases include a six-year-old girl from Lower Kohistan's Union Council Pattan and a 21-month-old girl from Union Council Matli-2, Badin, The News International reported. After the detection of these new cases, the total number of polio cases in Pakistan this year has reached 21, including 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, six from Sindh, and one case each from Punjab and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB).
Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that largely affects children aged below five years, according to World Health Organisation (WHO). There is no cure for polio, however, it can only prevented by immunisation. The polio vaccine, given multiple times, can protect a child for life.
The continued detection of polio cases shows that children remain at risk in areas, where less number of people are ready to vaccinate their children.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where Wild Poliovirus remains endemic. Polio workers have frequently been targetted in attacks, particularly in the northwest and southwest regions.