In Pakistan, another case of polio has been recorded, with a 2-year-old boy from Sindh’s Shikarpur district being affected by the debilitating disease. A health department official disclosed that the poliovirus was detected in stool samples from the child, who began showing symptoms of paralysis on May 21. This incident marks the fourth polio case in the country in 2024, with all previous cases originating from Balochistan.
Polio, a highly contagious viral infection, primarily targets young children, affecting the nervous system and potentially leading to paralysis or death. Currently, vaccination remains the primary defense against the disease, as there is no known cure.
Read more: Pakistan Records First Polio Case In 2024
In parallel news, Dr. Shahzad Asif Baig, the head of Pakistan’s polio eradication program, has resigned from his position citing personal reasons amidst a resurgence of polio cases. Following his resignation, the government has opted to appoint a replacement. Dr. Baig expressed pride in the achievement of halting the transmission of the endemic poliovirus and voiced confidence in Pakistan’s capability to interrupt all strains of polioviruses under new leadership.