Rise in polio cases

Earlier this year, Pakistani health authorities claimed that the country had been polio-free for about a year. Unfortunately, this was short-lived as North Waziristan recently reported the 12^th case of wild polio since April. It is worth mentioning that Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only polio-endemic countries left in the world with Pakistan having mixed results. In 2017, only eight polio cases were reported, but in 2020, the total tally crossed 200 cases. The recent spike in polio cases signals that the threat of the disease still exists.

The WHO had already urged Pakistani health authorities to remain cautious and avoid complacency in vaccination efforts because not detecting the virus does not necessarily mean that the virus has been eliminated. It warned that the virus can reappear during the high transmission season. The reports of new cases in parts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa may be disappointing for the polio workers, and health authorities. However, now is the time to intensify all efforts to curb the disease once and for all. The federal health authorities should consider improving surveillance to identify the virus and mitigate it.

The National Emergency Operations Centre announced plans for vaccination drives in southern K-P. These campaigns will be synchronised with Afghanistan and all communities will be included to tackle the problem comprehensively. To improve outreach, the federal health authorities should collaborate with the local community and tribal leaders and clerics. Even though the new cases have all been reported in K-P, health authorities and parents across the country must take this as a warning sign and remain vigilant — all children should be given double doses of the vaccine.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2022.

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