LAHORE: A minor in Punjab’s capital has died due to poliovirus.
A 26-month-old boy named Muhammad Ali was a resident of Ravi Town Lahore succumbed to the disease while undergoing treatment at the Children’s Hospital.
As per the spokesperson of Pakistan’s Anti-Polio Program, The child suffered a stroke last month. He was shifted to hospital where he was confirmed to have polio and passed away last week on 10th July.
Moreover, a three-day anti-polio vaccination drive will begin in Sindh’s capital from 20th to 23rd July. The drive will be conducted in two districts of Karachi and will target children less than five years of age. The polio vaccination drive will be carried out in more than 22 union councils of District Central and District West, Karachi.
More than 30 million children are deprived of the polio vaccine due to the cessation of anti-polio activities due to the coronavirus. Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by the poliovirus mostly affecting children under the age of five.
It invades the nervous system and causes paralysis or even death. Unfortunately, Pakistan is one of only three countries in the world, alongside Afghanistan and Nigeria, affected by poliovirus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) decided to maintain a temporary travel ban on Pakistan due to the increasing number of polio cases.