Pakistan Reports Third Polio Case Amid Transmission Concerns

May 27, 2024

Pakistan has confirmed the third case of polio this year, showing that getting rid of the poliovirus is still hard. The most recent person to get sick is a 12-year-old girl from the Kili Malak Haqdad area of Balochistan’s Killa Abdullah district. She has fever, body pain, puking, and is then paralyzed. Genetic analysis has shown that the virus is in the area that is sick. This new information shows that the transfer is still going on in important places like Karachi, Quetta, and Peshawar-Khyber. Even though there have been strong attempts to vaccinate people, these areas have become virus reservoirs.

Health Authorities’ Response

As a result of finding new cases and polio-positive samples in the environment, health officials are stepping up their vaccination efforts. The goal is to make kids’ immune systems stronger, especially in places where viruses are always spreading.

Challenges in Polio Eradication

After three years, polio has come back in Balochistan. This is a big defeat. The Technical Advisory Group in charge of polio eradication plans has a lot of work to do because there is a high risk of widespread transmission. This risk will only get worse in the summer when polio cases usually rise.

Facts about Poliovirus

Characteristics and Transmission

Poliovirus only infects humans and kids are most likely to get poliomyelitis from it.
The virus can enter the nervous system through the mouth and feces path. It can also live in the gut and grow there.
PV1, PV2, and PV3 are the three serotypes. PV1 is the most common and most dangerous.

Clinical Manifestations and Vaccination

72% of people who get poliovirus don’t have any symptoms, but serious cases can make people paralyzed.
The number of cases of polio around the world dropped dramatically after the Salk (inactivated) and Sabin (oral live attenuated) vaccines were made available.
These vaccines have been very important in stopping the disease and lowering the number of people who get polio around the world.

Eradication Efforts and Current Status

Since it began in 1988, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative has cut the number of cases of polio by more than 99%.
Even with all of these attempts, the virus can still live on in wild or “vaccine-derived” forms linked to immunodeficiency.
Polio is still common in only two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan.

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