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New polio cases in Sindh, KP, number rises to 48

Second case of polio was reported in a 28-month-old boy from DI Khan district of KP

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Karachi: Two more cases of polio have been reported in Pakistan, taking the total number of cases to 48 this year.

Wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) has been detected in environmental samples collected from two more districts of Bajaur and Gujarat in the country.

According to an official of the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), the lab has confirmed two cases of 'WPV1'.

The first case reported from the Ghotki district of Sindh is an affected boy.

Ghotki borders the districts of Sukkur, Rahim Yar Khan and Shikarpur where the virus was reported earlier this year.

The second case of polio was reported in a 28-month-old boy from Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

DI Khan is one of the polio-affected districts of South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This is the third polio case from DI Khan and the 48th case in Pakistan this year. Genetic sequencing of samples collected from the child is underway.

The official of the laboratory said that till now 23 cases of polio have been reported from Balochistan, 13 from Sindh, 10 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.

He stated that oral polio vaccine is essential to protect children from the infection. The polio program brings oral polio vaccine to the doorsteps of citizens several times a year, while the expanded immunization program provides free vaccines against 12 children's diseases at the nearest health centers.

“We urge parents across the country to ensure multiple doses of oral polio vaccine for all children under the age of five in their supervision and to ensure that their vaccine is up to date,” he said.

Meanwhile, the NIH lab has confirmed the presence of 'WPV1' in environmental samples collected from the two new districts as well as 15 other districts where earlier samples were found positive.

The official said that by November 8, 2024, Gujarat, Multan, Bannu, DI Khan, Tank, Bajaur, Naseerabad, Barkhan, Quetta, Dakki, Dera Bugti, Khuzdar, Sibi, Qila Saifullah, Mastung, Karachi East and Karachi Malir Sewage samples collected from 'WPV1' tested positive.

He added that these are the first samples of 'WPV1' from Bajaur and Gujarat this year, while the remaining 15 districts had earlier reported diagnoses of the virus in human or sewage samples.

The official explained that if the virus is found in sewage, the sample is said to be positive and whenever a child is paralyzed by the virus, it is called a positive case.

He added that the sample of sewage water from an area is the main parameter to determine whether the polio vaccination campaign is running successfully or not. After the samples are found positive, a polio campaign is immediately conducted to eliminate the virus from the area.

Polio can be completely prevented with multiple doses of easily accessible oral polio vaccine.

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World

US demands Qatar to expel Hamas leadership

Hamas leadership have rejected the news of any demand from Qatar to leave the country

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Washington: The United States has demanded that Qatar expel the Hamas leadership for rejecting the US agreement on the release of Israeli hostages.

According to the British news agency, the United States has given a clear message to Qatar that the presence of the Hamas leadership in Doha will no longer be accepted because the Palestinian resistance group has also rejected new proposals for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

A senior US official, speaking to the British news agency, said that a message was sent to Qatar several days ago to expel the leadership of Hamas after it rejected US new proposals related to the Hamas agreement.

The US official stated Hamas leaders could not be tolerated in the capital of any US ally after Hamas repeatedly rejected proposals for a deal to release hostages.

The American official added that Qatar had expressed the demand to the leaders of Hamas about 10 days ago that Washington had told Qatar that it was time to close the political office of Hamas after rejecting the proposals.

On the other hand, the three leaders of Hamas have rejected the news of any demand from Qatar to leave the country, while there was no response from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar to confirm the news or request for comment.

It is pertinent to note that the latest round of talks held in Doha in mid-October also failed as Hamas rejected a proposal for a short-term ceasefire.

Last year, after the October 7 attack, the US Secretary of State made it clear to other countries in the region, including Qatar, that normal relations with Hamas cannot be maintained. After the end, Hamas leaders are ready to reconsider their presence in the country.

Qatar, as a non-NATO and an influential ally of the US in the Gulf states, allowed Hamas to open a political office in Doha in 2012 under the US agreement.

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Crime

Four bandits killed, cops injured in Lahore encounter

Robbers who were killed in the Green Town area were involved in bank robberies

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Lahore: Four bandits were killed in an alleged police encounter in the Green Town area of Lahore.

According to the police, the robbers who were killed in the Green Town area were involved in bank robberies.

The police said that on receiving information about robbers hiding in a house, the police surrounded the house, during which there was an exchange of fire, as a result of which four robbers were killed.

According to the police, the Station House Officer (SHO) and constable were also injured in the encounter, and were shifted to the hospital for immediate medical attention.

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