A six-month-old child in Karachi’s District East has contracted polio, prompting the Sindh government to launch an urgent investigation into the latest case and step up efforts to prevent the virus from spreading. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the case, reported in Jamali Union Council on Tuesday, and convened an emergency meeting of health officials.
The chief minister expressed concern that the virus had resurfaced despite sustained government efforts to eradicate the disease. He directed the Health Department to investigate the circumstances surrounding the infection, identify its possible source and submit a detailed report.
Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah and Health Secretary Tahir Sangi attended the meeting. The chief minister instructed them to examine every aspect of the case and determine exactly how the child contracted the virus.
Polio case Karachi triggers sweeping response
The chief minister ordered an immediate response in the affected area, including comprehensive sweeping activities to detect possible transmission and contain the virus. He called for strict implementation of established polio eradication protocols and directed authorities to complete the investigation promptly, with a comprehensive report submitted to the provincial government.
The latest case has renewed concerns over the continued circulation of the poliovirus in Karachi, despite ongoing eradication efforts. Karachi has been one of the most difficult battlegrounds in the fight against polio, with dense neighbourhoods, population movement and pockets of vaccine refusal allowing the virus to keep circulating.
Pakistan is one of only two countries in the world, alongside Afghanistan, where polio remains endemic. Every case outside those strongholds would be a global emergency; inside them, each new case is a reminder of how fragile the gains remain.
Why the virus keeps resurfacing
Polio has no cure, but it is entirely preventable through vaccination. The virus spreads mainly through contaminated water and poor sanitation, and it can paralyse a child within hours of infection. The eradication programme relies on repeated door-to-door vaccination campaigns to reach every child under five, multiple times a year.
The challenge in Karachi is operational as much as medical. Health workers must reach children in crowded informal settlements, track families that move frequently, and persuade reluctant parents. When a case appears in an area like District East, the response includes not just the emergency meeting but a rapid vaccination sweep around the case to build an immunity wall before the virus spreads further.
The Sindh government’s focus on tracing the source matters because the origin of the infection points to where the immunity gaps are. If the child missed routine immunisation, that suggests a gap in the regular programme. If the child was vaccinated but still infected, investigators must check whether the cold chain that keeps vaccines effective broke down somewhere along the way.
For parents, the message from health authorities remains unchanged: complete every recommended dose of the polio vaccine for children under five, and cooperate with vaccination teams during campaigns.
Read our related health coverage: rabies claims third life in Punjab, Karachi hospital sealed after mpox case, and 13 measles cases recorded in South Waziristan.
FAQ
Where was the polio case reported?
The case was reported in Jamali Union Council in Karachi’s District East. The patient is a six-month-old child.
What action has the Sindh government taken?
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah convened an emergency meeting with the health minister, chief secretary and health secretary. He ordered an investigation into the source of infection, sweeping vaccination activities in the affected area, strict implementation of polio protocols and a detailed report.
Is polio still endemic in Pakistan?
Yes. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where polio remains endemic. Repeated vaccination campaigns continue across Pakistan to close immunity gaps and stop transmission.
