Pakistan’s Polio Cases Rise to 41 in 2024 Following New Infection Confirmation
The upcoming nationwide campaign is seen as crucial to restoring immunization rates and ultimately eradicating polio from the region.
Polio cases in Pakistan have surged to 41 this year, following the recent paralysis of another child in Balochistan.
This alarming rise in cases has been attributed to a significant drop in vaccination rates, with over 1 million children missing their polio vaccinations last month alone.
The latest case, confirmed on October 25, marks a troubling milestone as Pakistan prepares for a nationwide vaccination campaign set to begin on October 28, aiming to immunize approximately 45 million children under five years old.
As reported, a case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) has been identified in a 42-month-old girl from Loralai District, Balochistan.
The Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) stated that the child began showing signs of paralysis on October 8, and laboratory tests on Friday confirmed the presence of WPV1.
The majority of new polio cases have been reported in Balochistan, which has seen 21 out of the 41 cases this year. Local officials indicate that community distrust and misinformation about vaccines are major barriers to achieving higher vaccination rates.
This recent case is the first confirmed instance of polio in the Loralai district and underscores a concerning trend, as Balochistan has become a hotspot for polio transmission this year.
To date, the province has recorded 21 of the 41 cases in Pakistan, with the remaining cases distributed across Sindh (12), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (6), and one each in Punjab and Islamabad.
A senior official from the national polio eradication initiative voiced concern about the level of WPV1 transmission in the country, stressing that the situation in Loralai is part of a broader issue.
“The first case in Loralai, Balochistan, contributes to a troubling overall picture. We currently have 204 positive environmental samples from 71 districts across Pakistan. The virus is circulating in numerous areas, with undetected cases emerging, which is quite alarming,” the official stated.
As Pakistan grapples with these challenges, officials remain optimistic about reversing the trend through intensified vaccination efforts and public awareness campaigns. The upcoming nationwide campaign is seen as crucial to restoring immunization rates and ultimately eradicating polio from the region.
