Poliovirus Case Hits 14 in Pakistan as a new case is reported. The latest victim is a 20-month-old girl from Qila Saifullah, Balochistan, which has seen 11 cases this year. The update came during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Karachi, where Bill Gates, via video link, joined the discussion on polio eradication efforts.
The virtual meeting also included Chris Elias, Chair of the Polio Oversight Board at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, alongside key figures such as Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, Ayesha Raza Farooq, and senior representatives from WHO, UNICEF, CDC, BMGF, and Rotary Foundation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grave concerns about the rising number of polio cases, urging a nationwide surge in eradication efforts. He praised Gates for his ongoing support and commitment to global polio eradication.
Bill Gates acknowledged Pakistan’s strong ownership of the polio campaign and praised the leadership for addressing the crisis. He noted some remaining challenges but recognized the efforts of vaccination teams who reached many children during the recent campaign. Gates emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum to halt virus transmission.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, the PM’s focal person on polio, provided a detailed update on the virus situation, pointing out that Karachi, Quetta, and Peshawar are core reservoirs of the virus. She highlighted that the virus has affected 14 children this year and has been detected in over 50 districts across Pakistan and AJK. Ayesha Raza Farooq stressed the critical next four months for implementing three high-quality vaccination rounds by December.
The meeting concluded with updates from provincial chief secretaries on the national polio eradication roadmap. Dr Bharath assured full support to provinces in their efforts to eradicate the virus completely.
Latest Poliovirus Case Details
The National Institute of Health’s Regional Reference Laboratory confirmed the detection of Type-1 Wild Poliovirus (WPV1) in the 20-month-old girl from Qila Saifullah. This is the first case reported from the district this year. To date, Balochistan has reported 11 cases, Sindh two, and Punjab one. Genetic sequencing is underway to trace the virus’s origin.
