KARACHI:The Emergency Operation Centre for Polio in Sindh has announced that two polio cases have been reported from the province, both from the city of Hyderabad, which takes the total case count for Sindh in 2019 to 5. Out of these 5 cases 2 are from Karachi, 1 from Larkana and 2 from Hyderabad. The total case count in the country is now 58.
According to details, the virus has effected two children, one female, aged 12 months, a resident of Quetta town in district Hyderabad and according to her mother, the child had a history of vomiting and loose motion since seven days. On 20th July, the parents noticed the weakness in both lower limbs and the child became weak and was not able to stand. Both her lower libs are affected. It may be noted that the child has received no routine immunization and was low on immunity.
The other child affected by the polio virus is also a 12-months old and is a resident of Chungi Lal, district Hyderabad. According to the mother, on 05th August after returning from school, the child suffered ache in both lower limbs.
Mother massaged both lower limbs and noticed that child was unable to stand and walk. On 06th August, the parents brought child to SG Hospital Shah Bhittai Latifabad Hyderabad and subsequently tested for polio. She has weakness in both lower limbs, but because of routine immunization doses, she may be saved from complete paralysis.
According to the spokesperson for the Emergency Operation Centre for Polio in Sindh, “the polio programme was badly affected by rumors on social and mainstream media and incidents such as the Peshawar incident in April which had set the programme back. However, communities now must understand that if children are not repeatedly vaccinated, polio will return and spread. It is with great effort that polio cases were bought down to a handful but now the virus is spreading because of community fatigue and resistance. He appealed to parents to please cooperate with polio team and save the children of Pakistan from this virus.”
He added: “A case response activity will now be conducted in 6 districts (144 UCs) of Larkana and Hyderabad Divisions of Sindh targeting 1,011,553 children from 26th – 29th Aug 2019 and this is a golden opportunity to turn the tide.”