Islamabad: A day after World Polio Day, Pakistan reported another polio case, raising this year’s total to 41. The latest case was identified in the Loralai district of Balochistan, marking the first reported case in that area for 2024.
Health officials disclosed that the patient is a 42-month-old girl who showed signs of paralysis on October 8. She had not received any doses in routine immunization drives. This lack of vaccination may have contributed to her infection, highlighting gaps in the immunization coverage in some areas of the country.
This new case comes amid an alarming rise in polio cases across Pakistan. The country recently reported another polio case on the eve of World Polio Day, underscoring the urgency to control the virus.
Surge in Cases Across Provinces
The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health in Islamabad confirmed the case. An official from the lab reported that it involved the type-1 wild poliovirus (WPV1), which has been the primary strain causing polio in Pakistan this year.
“This case from Loralai brings Balochistan’s total to 21 cases this year, contributing to Pakistan’s 41 cases overall,” the official said. The breakdown of cases includes 21 from Balochistan, 12 from Sindh, six from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
Balochistan has become a hotspot for the virus this year. Officials confirmed that four consecutive sewage samples from Loralai have tested positive since June, indicating the virus’s circulation within the community.
In response to the rising cases, the Pakistan Polio Programme is launching a nationwide immunization campaign on October 28. The campaign aims to vaccinate more than 45 million children across the country. Officials emphasize the importance of parent participation in this drive to protect children from the crippling disease.
The Prime Minister’s focal person for polio eradication encouraged parents to cooperate fully with vaccinators. “It’s critical for parents to open their doors to vaccinators and ensure that all children receive the oral polio vaccine,” the focal person stated.
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Polio Eradication Efforts Continue
The polio eradication program remains a high priority in Pakistan, one of only two countries in the world where polio is still classified as endemic. The government, along with international partners, continues efforts to eliminate polio through regular vaccination drives and awareness campaigns.
With the upcoming campaign, health officials hope to halt the virus’s spread and achieve significant reductions in new cases. However, the rising trend highlights the need for sustained vaccination coverage and public cooperation.
This latest case in Loralai serves as a reminder of the importance of immunization and the ongoing battle against polio in Pakistan.
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