Minor diagnosed with polio virus in now-defunct FATA, saved from paralysis

By
Rasool Dawar
|
Photo: File 

PESHAWAR: A minor in Khyber district of the now-defunct Federally Administered Tribal Areas was diagnosed with polio virus but was not left crippled due to the vaccines being administered earlier.

This was the first case of polio virus diagnosed in 26 months from the tribal areas, which have been merged into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According KP Emergency Operation Center Coordinator Mahmood Aslam Wazir, polio virus was detected in a 4.5 years old girl, Saira, living in Toora Wela area of Khyber district.

Although the virus entered her body, it did not leave her paralysed as she was administered five to six polio drops during earlier immunisation drives, he added.

The virus was detected in her stool that was taken during a follow-up drive and sent to Islamabad for tests.

The case was a diagnosed from the now-defunct tribal areas after over two years, but was not the first from KP.

In September, a boy living in Charsadda district of the province was diagnosed with polio virus.

One-and-a-half years old Arsalan was tested positive for the P1 serotype of polio virus in Sarkai Tetara union council.

According to officials in the KP Health Department, it was the first case reported in 2018.  

With additional information from Sheeba Haider