Latest case in DI Khan brings K-P polio tally to five

A child in Dera Ismail Khan has tested positive for the polio virus, bringing the total number of cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to four this year.

According to Pakistan's National Polio Laboratory, a 22-month-old boy from the Morgah Union Council in Dera Ismail Khan has been confirmed to have contracted the virus, as reported by Express news.

The child's stool samples were sent to the National Institute of Health in Islamabad, where the polio virus was identified following detailed analysis.

Prior to this case, one case each was reported in the Mardan, Tank, and Kohat districts.

This raises the total number of polio cases reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to four, contributing to a nationwide total of 32 cases.

Mohammad Zeeshan Khan, Deputy Coordinator of the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre, expressed his regret over the confirmation of the virus in the Dera Ismail Khan child, stating it is deeply saddening that another child has fallen victim to the polio virus and has become disabled.

He emphasised the government's commitment to eradicating the virus from the province and noted the challenges faced in doing so, which contribute to the ongoing threat posed by the virus.

Zeeshan reaffirmed the commitment to deploy all available resources to eliminate this crippling disease and ensure the complete eradication of the virus from the province.

Recent Rise in Polio Cases

Earlier, four new polio cases were reported in Pakistan, bringing the total number of children affected by the virus to 32 across the country.

The new cases have emerged from Jacobabad, Karachi's Malir district, and Dera Ismail Khan.

In Jacobabad's Thul tehsil, a 32-month-old girl and an 18-month-old boy were diagnosed with polio, while in Karachi's Bin Qasim tehsil of Malir district, a 72-month-old boy tested positive for the virus.

Meanwhile, in Dera Ismail Khan, a 22-month-old boy was also confirmed to have contracted polio.

The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for Polio in Sindh confirmed that the province has now recorded 10 cases this year.

Health officials reported that Pakistan had seen a troubling rise in polio cases in recent months.
Following years of progress in reducing the incidence of the virus, the situation began to shift with a sudden uptick in infections.

As cases surged, the authorities recognised the urgent need to address the underlying issues affecting vaccination efforts.

By mid-year, health teams had identified multiple cases across various districts, prompting officials to intensify their outreach and vaccination campaigns.

Despite ongoing efforts, vaccine hesitancy in some communities remained a significant barrier to progress.

Government health departments launched initiatives to raise awareness about the importance of immunisation among parents and caregivers.

They organised community meetings and distributed educational materials to dispel myths surrounding the vaccine.

The commitment to eradicate polio remained strong, and the authorities worked diligently to mobilise resources for vaccination drives.

In response to the increasing number of cases, officials planned a comprehensive mass vaccination campaign targeting mobile and migrant populations.

Set to take place on October 28, the initiative aimed to reach the most vulnerable groups, ensuring that children received the necessary vaccinations to protect them from the debilitating effects of polio