Health Desk :
The health department Balochistan on Monday confirmed a fresh polio case. A 15-month old minor girl tested positive for the crippling virus in the Pishin district of the province, sources in the health department told the daily Quetta Voice. The patient belongs to Killi Malezai. The number of polio cases reached 18 during the current year in Balochistan.
Balochistan Reports 18th Polio Case
In a week, this is the second polio case in a district. A 35-month old child diagnosed with the virus on September 5 this month in Pishin district.
Sources said samples of the minor girl sent to the laboratory a few days back. On Monday, the laboratory confirmed that the kid has contracted the crippling virus, they informed.
Pishin is one of the high-risk districts of Balochistan in terms of poliovirus. Rashid Razzaq, the Chief of Emergency Operation Cell (EOC) Balochistan had earlier warned that environmental samples show the presence of the virus in Quetta, Pishin, and Killa Abdullah districts. Balochistan had reported 12 cases during the year 2019.
Chronic Refusals Major FactorÂ
The anti-polio teams and volunteers have been facing problems and criticism in the three districts during campaigns. Chronic refusals coupled with poor management appear to be the underlying reason behind increasing cases, a polio worker said. He spoke on the condition of anonymity.
“The number of chronic refusals is in thousands”, he revealed, giving no other details. Anti polio campaigns are underway for the last more than three decades. However, the crippling virus is yet to be eradicated from the province. Resources are being pumped with thousands of polio workers and volunteers participating in every polio drive, but, the desired results are yet to be achieved.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries in the world where the crippling virus still exists.
Balochistan Reports 18th Polio Case
