Pakistan’s polio crisis deepens as 33rd case reported from Quetta

Pakistan has reported another polio case in 2024, bringing the total to 33 this year after a child from Quetta was diagnosed with the virus.

The affected child showed symptoms of polio on August 22. Quetta has seen three polio cases, with 37 sewerage samples testing positive for the virus.

Additionally, the Quetta block has recorded 11 polio cases and 65 positive sewerage samples.

Balochistan remains the most affected province, with 17 cases reported. Sindh has recorded 10 cases, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa four, and one case each from Islamabad and Punjab.

On September 5, the National Institute of Health (NIH) presented detailed statistics on polio cases in Pakistan before the National Assembly.

The NIH reported a total of 45 polio cases across Pakistan over the past four years. In 2021, only one case was reported, while the number surged to 20 in 2022.

During 2023, eight new cases were recorded, followed by 16 cases in 2024, as confirmed by the Ministry of Health.

In terms of funding, $180 million was allocated for the National Polio Eradication Programme in 2022, which increased to $187 million in 2023. For the ongoing year, 2024, the programme has been allocated $80 million.

The Ministry of Health further emphasised that since January 2022, a total of $447 million has been spent on polio eradication efforts, highlighting the government’s commitment to eliminating the disease from the country.