Pakistan’s Polio Cases Rise to 64 with New Case in Jacobabad, Sindh
This is the fourth polio case of the year from Jacobabad
Pakistan’s polio situation has worsened with the recent confirmation of another case in Jacobabad, Sindh, bringing the total number of reported wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in the country to 64 for the year 2024.
This latest case marks the fourth reported in Jacobabad this year, contributing to Sindh’s overall tally of 18 cases.
According to an official of the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health, the lab confirmed a case from Jacobabad on Wednesday.
“This is the fourth polio case of the year from Jacobabad. Pakistan is responding to the resurgence of WPV1 this year with 64 cases reported so far. Of these, 26 are from Balochistan, 18 each from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad,” the official said.
Overview of Polio Cases in 2024
- Total Cases in Pakistan: 64
- Cases in Sindh: 18
- Recent Case Location: Jacobabad
Distribution of Cases by Province
- Balochistan: 26 cases
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP): 18 cases
- Sindh: 18 cases
- Punjab and Islamabad: 1 case each
Despite ongoing vaccination campaigns aimed at eradicating polio, challenges such as vaccine hesitancy and misinformation continue to hinder progress.
The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has emphasized the importance of vaccinating children under five and is conducting a large-scale vaccination drive from December 16 to December 22, aiming to immunize over 44 million children across the country.
