In a troubling development, Pakistan has reported its first polio case for the year 2024.
The infected youngster is a two-and-a-half-year-old toddler from Balochistan’s Dera Bugti district, sparking increased efforts in the region to prevent the poliovirus recurrence.
According to reports from the National Institute of Health (NIH), this terrible incidence heralds the return of polio to the Dera Bugti district after a 13-year break.
The polio case was discovered during medical checks on February 22, when the kid had indications of fever and weakness.
Subsequent NIH tests confirmed the presence of poliovirus type 1 in the affected child, increasing worries about possible community transmission.
To limit the virus’s spread, health officials have quickly launched response activities, including vaccine campaigns and increased surveillance.
Despite substantial progress in the global campaign against polio, Pakistan continues to experience periodic outbreaks, particularly in areas with inadequate access to healthcare services.
