Polio vaccine/AFP file photo

KARACHI: The city witnessed its second case of polio within a span of three months, the latest victim being a five-month-old infant who has been diagnosed with the virus.

Five-month-old boy Zaibullah, son of Ghulam Sakhi, a resident of UC-4 Gadap Town, had been administered with anti-polio drops during a past campaign. However, his routine immunisation had not been completed, officials said.

Just over three months ago, the metropolis reported its first polio case after staying polio-free for 18 months ? an alarming recurrence despite the efforts that were being made to eradicate the crippling disease from the country.

Seven-month-old Qasim, a resident of Village Sher Khan/Madina Colony in UC 13 Gulshan, was confirmed as the victim of polio in September. The infant?s grandfather had reportedly refused the administration of polio drops at Qasim?s birth.

In all, six cases of polio have been reported in the country this year.

Three years ago, Karachi was known as the largest reservoir of polio in the world with as many as 23 new cases being reported annually. 

After 18 months polio raises its head in Karachi again

KARACHI: The reoccurrence of polio in Karachi after a gap of 18 months is heartbreaking, especially after all the efforts that were made, striving to make Karachi polio-free said Dr Sikander Ali...

The efforts of the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for polio in Sindh have been credited with helping contain the outbreak through innovative strategies such as hiring educated female workers. These strategies in the fight against polio have been acclaimed by the international community as well.

EOC appeals to the public, the media, influencers, and everyone who can help raise awareness through the re-emergence of polio in the city to make parents stop playing with their children's futures, to help eradicate polio completely which is only possible through multiple immunisations.