TANK, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA — Health officials have confirmed Pakistan’s 13th polio case of the year in the Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, prompting an urgent call for renewed immunisation efforts.
Case Details
A young child in rural Tank tested positive for the wild poliovirus after showing signs of acute flaccid paralysis. The case underscores the ongoing threat of polio in the region, despite sustained vaccination campaigns.
Response Measures
- Immediate Vaccination Drive: Emergency teams have been deployed across affected districts, administering polio drops door‑to‑door in Tank, neighbouring Lakki Marwat, and Dera Ismail Khan.
- Enhanced Surveillance: Mobile units are intensifying community health monitoring to detect any additional cases early.
- Awareness Campaigns: Local health authorities are stepping up efforts to encourage parents to complete their children’s vaccination schedules, citing community health and safety.
Why It Matters
This latest case follows several recorded in KP and Balochistan, signalling that polio remains a persistent public health issue. Authorities warn that even a single case can reignite transmission in unprotected communities.
Public health experts stress the importance of maintaining high immunisation coverage until polio is fully eradicated in Pakistan—a goal that hinges on sustained outreach in hard‑to‑reach and underserved areas.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.
