Pakistan Polio Cases Hit 52: Dera Ismail Khan

Two new cases of polio have been confirmed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), pushing Pakistan’s total count for the year to 52.

Despite ongoing eradication efforts, the country is seeing an uptick in cases of the debilitating disease.

The latest cases were reported from Tehsil Darazinda in District Dera Ismail Khan, where an 18-month-old boy and a three-year-old girl were diagnosed with the virus.

This brings the total number of cases in KP to 13, with Balochistan still the most affected region, reporting 24 cases.

Sindh has recorded 13 cases, while Punjab and Islamabad have each seen one case this year.

Pakistan remains one of only two countries globally where wild poliovirus continues to spread.

Factors such as insecurity, misinformation, and community resistance have hindered vaccination campaigns, further complicating efforts to eliminate the disease.

Health officials continue to urge widespread vaccination to control the disease, which primarily affects children under the age of five.

Polio can lead to paralysis or even death, but vaccination remains the most effective preventive measure.