Polio Cases in Pakistan Reach 65 with New Diagnosis in Balochistan

A one-and-a-half-year-old child in Balochistan has been diagnosed with polio, bringing Pakistan’s total number of cases to 65 in 2024.

The latest case, confirmed in Killa Abdullah district, raises the province’s tally to 27.

Poliovirus continues to threaten the health of children across Pakistan, one of the two remaining polio-endemic countries alongside Afghanistan.

While the number of annual cases had significantly decreased in recent years, there has been a worrying resurgence of the disease this year.

According to the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, polio is a “paralyzing” and incurable disease.

However, routine vaccination for children under five provides strong immunity, significantly reducing the risk of infection. Despite vaccination efforts, the country has seen a troubling rise in cases.

In addition to Balochistan, Sindh has reported 18 cases, while Punjab and Islamabad each recorded one case in 2024.

To combat this resurgence, the government has launched multiple vaccination campaigns, including a nationwide drive that began last week, aiming to vaccinate 44 million children.

Ayesha Raza Farooq, Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication, stated that over 400,000 polio workers will visit 143 districts across the country to administer polio drops to children under five years old.

However, efforts continue to face obstacles, including security concerns, misinformation, and resistance from some parents.

With more than 60% of polio-affected children in 2024 having missed routine immunizations, health authorities have formed a high-level committee to enhance coordination between the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) and the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) to strengthen vaccination efforts.