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Islamabad, August 24, 2024 — Pakistan has reported its 16th polio case of the year, following the paralysis of a 29-month-old girl in Sindh province, officials confirmed on Friday. The latest case highlights the persistent challenge of eradicating the disease in the South Asian nation.
An official from the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad announced that wild Poliovirus type-1 (WPV1) was detected in the young girl from Hyderabad district. This marks the first polio case in Hyderabad, the third in Sindh, and the 16th nationwide in 2024.
The resurgence of polio is not confined to a single region. The virus has been found in sewage samples across 62 districts this year, a sharp increase from 28 districts in 2023. This spread has alarmed health authorities, who are racing to contain the virus before it paralyzes more children.
“This is the first polio case from Hyderabad and the third from Sindh, and the 16th case in Pakistan this year,” stated the NIH official. The majority of cases have emerged from Balochistan, with 12 reported, while Sindh has seen three, and Punjab one.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, expressed concern over the latest development. “The latest case is a clear reminder that until we eradicate this virus from our country, no child anywhere is safe from its devastating effects,” she warned. Farooq also noted that WPV1 has been consistently detected in Hyderabad’s sewage for the past four months, underlining the ongoing threat of virus transmission.
In response to the growing outbreak, the government has intensified its efforts. “We are operating on an emergency footing in all provinces given the intensity of the outbreak and extent of virus spread,” Farooq emphasized. The polio program has devised a comprehensive plan to interrupt virus transmission, starting with a large-scale vaccination campaign set to begin on September 9.
Muhammad Anwar-ul-Haq, coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, announced that a thorough investigation is underway to trace the origins of the virus and ensure the immunization of children in affected areas. “Poliovirus has been circulating in adjacent districts of Karachi and Hyderabad for several months,” he explained. “Every child’s wellbeing is important to us, and we will be launching a vaccination campaign in all affected districts from September 9 to boost children’s immunity.”
Despite being eliminated in most developed countries, polio remains endemic in Pakistan, as well as in parts of Afghanistan and Nigeria. The eradication efforts in Pakistan have been hindered by widespread vaccine hesitancy, especially in conservative tribal areas where many believe the polio vaccination campaign is a Western ploy to sterilize the population. This mistrust has been exacerbated by militant activity, with nearly a dozen policemen killed this year while protecting health workers during vaccination campaigns.
The latest case is a stark reminder of the challenges that remain in Pakistan’s battle against polio. As the country prepares for an extensive immunization drive, health officials are calling for vigilance and cooperation from all sectors of society to ensure that future generations are protected from this debilitating disease.
