Pakistan has reported its 14th wild poliovirus case this year, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH), Dawn reported on Thursday.
According to the NIH the latest victim is an eight-month-old girl from Miramshah tehsil of North Waziristan district.
“This is the third wild poliovirus case from Miramshah and the 13th from North Waziristan this year,” the official told Dawn.
All 14 victims are aged under two years, whereas the only case outside North Waziristan was reported from Lakki Marwat last week.
The health ministry said in a statement polio campaigns had proven to be successful all over the world, with over 99 per cent of the world now polio-free. The only two remaining polio-endemic countries — Pakistan and Afghanistan — have reported 15 cases this year, with 14 cases detected from Pakistan between April and June and one case from Afghanistan in January.
“The national emergency operations centres of Afghanistan and Pakistan are continuing cross-border coordination efforts,” it said. “The countries have synchronised two polio campaigns in May and June and are ensuring vaccination of children under 10 on all major transit points, along with vaccinating all ages at the international borders.”
After staying polio-free for almost 15 months, Pakistan reported a polio case in April. The country detected only one case last year.
