Polio Continues to Cripple Children in Pakistan as 48 Wild Poliovirus Type-1 Cases Reported in 2024
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Nov 10, 2024 1 week, 5 days, 4 hours, 51 minutes ago
Medical News: Polio remains a serious health challenge in Pakistan, with the country reporting 48 cases of Wild Poliovirus Type-1 (WPV1) so far in 2024. The latest case was identified in a young boy from Dera Ismail Khan, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). This new case, confirmed by Pakistan’s National Institute of Health (NIH) on Saturday, marks the tenth instance of polio in KP this year, bringing renewed concern for the health of children in the region. This
Medical News report highlights the continued spread of this debilitating virus and the efforts underway to combat it.
Polio Continues to Cripple Children in Pakistan as 48 Wild Poliovirus Type-1 Cases
Reported in 2024
The NIH is conducting genetic sequencing on samples from the infected child to better understand the virus’s transmission path. This analysis will aid health authorities in directing vaccination campaigns to areas most at risk. This case follows another WPV1 detection earlier in the week in Sindh’s Ghotki district, which had not previously reported cases this year. These recent findings indicate that the virus is spreading to new areas, underscoring the urgency of widespread immunization efforts.
Rising Tally of Polio Cases Across Provinces
Pakistan's total WPV1 cases are distributed unevenly across its provinces, with Balochistan seeing the highest number at 23. Sindh has reported 13 cases, followed by 10 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Meanwhile, Punjab and Islamabad each have documented one case. The persistence of polio in Pakistan is attributed to various challenges, including misinformation, insecurity in certain regions, and some community resistance, all of which make consistent vaccination efforts difficult. As a result, Pakistan remains one of only two countries globally where the wild poliovirus has not been eradicated, with health officials urging parents to participate in frequent immunization campaigns.
Polio is an extremely contagious viral disease that primarily affects children under five, especially those who are malnourished or have not been vaccinated. This virus attacks the nervous system and can lead to irreversible paralysis or even death. Although there is no cure for polio, vaccination is the most effective method to prevent its spread and protect children from this debilitating illness.
Global Concern as Pakistan's Outbreak Persists
The ongoing struggle to eliminate polio in Pakistan has attracted the attention of global health organizations. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) recently reported that, in addition to Pakistan, seven other countries recorded new cases of polio, highlighting the virus’s continued presence in multiple regions.
https://polioeradication.org/about-polio/polio-this-week/
Notably, as of early November, 53 environmental samples from Pakistan were found to be WPV1-positive, indicating that the virus could continue to spread in coming month
s.
In addition to WPV1 cases in Pakistan, several African nations, including Senegal, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Niger, and Nigeria, have also reported cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus. Similarly, Yemen has recorded two cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2), illustrating the virus’s reach across various continents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States continues to issue travel advisories for 37 countries considered at risk for polio outbreaks.
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/level2/global-polio
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices
To protect travelers, adults who have completed the full polio vaccine series are advised to receive a lifetime booster dose before visiting high-risk areas.
Warning that Polio will eventually ‘migrate’ to the United Kingdom from Pakistan
Certain healthcare professionals are warning that it is only a matter of time before the Wild Poliovirus Type-1 strain will debut in the United Kingdom as the illegal migration of Muslims, Africans, unwanted Middle-Easterners and Pakistanis into the United Kingdom is rising at an alarming rate. It is very likely that the polio virus will also come along with these illegal migrants.
Conclusion
As Pakistan grapples with the resurgence of polio cases in 2024, the urgency of effective immunization programs cannot be overstated. Despite challenges, officials remain committed to eradication efforts, stressing that vaccination is essential to ending the spread of this virus. With Pakistan’s case count reaching 48, global health leaders are closely watching, emphasizing the importance of public awareness and participation in vaccination drives. The struggle against polio continues, with hopes that through increased immunization efforts, Pakistan can eventually eradicate this devastating disease and protect future generations.
For the latest Polio News, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/australian-infectious-diseases-specialist-warns-that-hundreds-could-be-infected-with-polio-in-indonesia-and-that-the-situation-is-worrisome
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-authorities-warn-that-new-york-could-be-in-the-initial-stages-of-a-silent-polio-outbreak-with-hundreds-possibly-already-infected
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