Pakistan Records Three New Polio Cases, Bringing 2024 Total to 59
Pakistan has reported three additional cases of wild poliovirus, raising the nationwide tally to 59 this year, according to the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).
The latest cases were detected in Dera Ismail Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Karachi’s Keamari district (Sindh), and Kashmore (Sindh), the EOC announced on Monday.
Regional Breakdown
- Dera Ismail Khan: Now accounts for eight cases in 2024.
- Keamari, Karachi: Reports its third case this year.
- Kashmore: Registers its first case of 2024.
Balochistan remains the most affected province with 26 cases, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (16), Sindh (15), and one case each in Punjab and Islamabad.
A Persistent Challenge
Poliovirus predominantly affects children under five, particularly those with low immunity or who have missed vaccination doses. Despite vaccination campaigns, the disease continues to pose a significant public health challenge, exacerbated by security concerns and vaccine hesitancy in certain regions.
Government Efforts and Expert Appeals
Authorities are working aggressively to eradicate the virus by addressing misinformation, improving access in remote and conflict-prone areas, and ensuring vaccination for all vulnerable children.
“Vaccines are safe and essential to protect children from paralysis. Listening to conspiracy theories is putting children at grave risk,” a Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) official stated, urging parents to vaccinate their children during campaigns.
Health officials emphasize that achieving eradication requires concerted efforts, community trust, and overcoming barriers to immunization. The government has pledged to intensify its strategies, focusing on integrating healthcare services in high-risk areas and combating vaccine resistance.
Eradicating polio in Pakistan remains a global priority, as the nation is one of the last two countries where the disease is still endemic, alongside Afghanistan.
