ISLAMABAD: Health authorities have confirmed a new case of wild poliovirus in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, marking the first instance of the virus reported from the region.
The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed a new case in 23-month-old male child from District Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan.
“This is the first case of wild poliovirus reported from GB and the eleventh confirmed case in Pakistan this year.”
Providing details of the case, GB Health Secretary Asifullah Khan said the child was diagnosed with poliovirus in Diamer’s Tangir area.
He said that the child has not travelled outside the area, however, the virus strain has been confirmed to has originated from Karachi’s Liaquatabad area. Mr Khan observed that there was a record of administering polio drops to the child. However, he added, the child was not provided with the vaccines given immediately after birth.
Two booked
Diamer police have registered a case against two unidentified persons for attacking a polio monitoring team in Tangir Valley of Diamer. The case has been registered with Jaglot Police Station.
According to the FIR, the complainant, who was part of polio monitoring team, said two days ago he along with other team members Muhammad Bilal, Kainat Hussain, driver Adnan Hussain and Iqbal Hussain, had gone to Sheikho area in Tangir Valley for polio vaccination survey.
He said two unidentified individuals stopped their vehicle in Sheikho area and opened fire at the tyres. The suspects told the team that “they are ruining their environment by bringing in unveiled women from Gilgit”.
They threatened: “If you do this again, you will be killed.”
Later, the attackers fled towards mountains, the FIR said.
Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2025
