ISLAMABAD: In the first six months of 2021, Pakistan has seen no new cases of polio a record that was never seen before.
Pakistan has come closest ever to achieve the goal of polio eradication with no wild polio cases in the last six months and consistent decline in the number of positive environmental samples,” focal person for polio eradication Brigadier Shehzad Baig said.
Brigadier Baig said the geographic distribution of the virus in the country has now been confined only to a few areas, Geo TV reported on Tuesday.
A report on the status of polio by the ministry of health states that the Polio Eradication Programme has achieved similar results in the past at least once (having low case count), but the significant decrease in the virus in the environment simultaneously, is unique and heartening.
Meanwhile, DRAP has granted approval for the use of Novel Oral Polio Vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) paving the way for it to be introduced in the country.
Secretary Health Amir Khuwaja said the challenges still exist such as missed children, refusals, and negative propagandas, but he assured that the authorities are making all efforts to overcome these obstacles.
The health ministry said that over 33 million children under the age of five had received their vaccination during the sub-national anti-polio campaign. The campaign was conducted from June 7 to 11 in 124 districts of the country including all four provinces, Azad Jammu Kashmir and Islamabad.
