Ghazni Provincial Hospital has confirmed the detection of the first case of poliovirus in the province, marking a concerning development in the region’s health landscape.
A reliable source within Ghazni Provincial Hospital disclosed to Hasht-e Subh Daily on Monday, April 8, that the affected individual is a three-year-old child. The child resides in the first district of Ghazni city.
This incidence marks the initial recorded case of polio in Afghanistan for the year 2024, underscoring the persistent challenges in eradicating the disease despite ongoing efforts. Last year alone, six confirmed cases of poliovirus were documented across the country, indicating a recurring threat to public health.
The revelation of the first polio case in Ghazni comes against the backdrop of recent claims made by Abdul Salam Hanafi, the administrative deputy of the Taliban’s Prime Minister, during discussions with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization. Hanafi asserted on March 27 that Afghanistan had successfully eradicated polio from all its regions.