National Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) officials have confirmed presence of another polio case, from Quetta, bringing the national total to two in the first month of 2010. EPI sources told newsmen on Wednesday that National Institute of Health (NIH) Laboratory had identified the case as Type Three of the poliovirus.
The case reported early this year was from Bajour Agency in Fata. It was, however, identified as Type One. The latest victim of the crippling virus is 14 months old Naseebullah s/o of Asmatullah. He had an onset of paralysis on January 7 and necessary investigations done in Islamabad confirmed it to be Polio on January 25.
The child resides in Muslim Ittehad Colony, Union Council Balil of Tehsil Quetta (Saddar). EPI sources said Quetta district had reported two confirmed cases of polio in 2009. Both of these were of Type Three strain of the virus. "Quetta is the part of high risk area of North Western Balochistan and was included in all vaccination campaigns," said the officials.
A total of 11 vaccination campaigns were conducted during 2009, seven of these with vaccines having the component against Type Three poliovirus. The concerned authorities acknowledged that due to management issues Balochsitan could not conduct the Immunisation Month in October last year. Sub National Immunisation Days (SNIDs) were also not conducted, according to national schedule, here in December.