Polio cases rise to 37 in Pakistan after four fresh cases reported in K-P, Balochistan

Four new cases of polio have been reported in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, bringing the total number of cases in Pakistan this year to 37.

Health authorities told a local news channel that a 30-month-old girl from Lakki Marwat, an 18-month-old girl from Pishin, a 9-month-old boy from Chaman, and a 5-year-old boy from Noshki have all been diagnosed with the disease.

According to officials, the number of polio cases in Balochistan now stands at 20, while Sindh has reported 10 cases. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has seen five cases, and Punjab and Islamabad have each confirmed one case.

With these new cases, health officials remain concerned about the ongoing spread of the virus despite vaccination efforts across the country.

Pakistan has recorded 37 polio cases in 2024 so far, indicating a concerning rise in infections, especially from provinces such as Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the majority of cases have been reported.

According to the data by Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, Balochistan has seen a surge with 20 cases, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded 10 cases. Sindh follows with 5 cases, and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) reported one case.

The resurgence of polio in these regions comes despite continued vaccination efforts. In comparison to previous years, polio cases were as low as one in 2020, and zero cases were recorded in Punjab and Balochistan in 2023.

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.