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Islamabad, December 28 — Pakistan reported two new polio cases, raising the total number of infections this year to 67, the National Institute of Health (NIH) confirmed on Friday.
The new cases were identified in the northwest district of Tank and the southern district of Kashmore, marking the fourth case from Tank and the second from Kashmore in 2024, according to the NIH.
The year’s polio outbreak has been geographically diverse, with 27 cases reported from Balochistan, 19 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 19 from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and the federal capital, Islamabad.
Vaccination Efforts Intensified
In response to the escalating number of cases, Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Programme has ramped up efforts with multiple mass vaccination campaigns. Earlier this month, a large-scale drive was conducted across 143 districts, aiming to vaccinate over 44 million children under five years of age.
A second phase of the campaign is scheduled to begin on December 30, targeting unvaccinated children and those who may have missed previous doses.
Despite these efforts, the country has seen a steady rise in cases. On December 3, the NIH confirmed three additional cases, bringing the tally at that point to 59. Those cases included one from Dera Ismail Khan, and two from Karachi and Kashmore.
Wild Poliovirus Type 1 Resurgence
The NIH revealed that all cases reported this year have been linked to the Wild Poliovirus Type 1 (WPV1), which continues to circulate in parts of the country. The institution emphasized the urgent need for public cooperation, urging parents to ensure their children under five receive oral polio vaccines during each campaign.
“Given the intensity of this outbreak, vaccination remains the most effective tool to protect children from lifelong disability caused by polio,” the NIH said in a statement.
Challenges Ahead
Pakistan, one of only two countries in the world where polio remains endemic, faces significant challenges in eradicating the virus. Misconceptions about vaccines, logistical issues in remote areas, and regional instability have hindered the country’s polio eradication efforts.
The resurgence of WPV1 underscores the need for sustained, collaborative efforts between health authorities, community leaders, and international partners.
With 67 cases confirmed so far, 2024 marks a critical year for Pakistan’s polio eradication program as it seeks to curb the virus’s spread and protect millions of children from its debilitating effects.
