Three new polio cases surface in Pakistan as tally hits 55

Pakistan’s National Institute of Health (NIH) has confirmed the detection of three new cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), bringing the total number of cases in the country to 55 in 2024.

The confirmation, issued by the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication on November 23, identified the cases in DI Khan and Zhob districts, where female children were affected, and in Jaffarabad district, where a male child contracted the virus.

With this latest development, DI Khan, one of the seven polio-endemic districts in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), has now reported six cases of polio this year. Zhob has reported three cases, while Jaffarabad has seen two.

This marks a significant resurgence of WPV1 in the country. Out of the 55 reported cases, 26 are from Balochistan, 14 from KP, 13 from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.

Polio, a paralyzing disease with no known cure, continues to be a threat to children in Pakistan. Health authorities stress the importance of vaccination, as multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine are essential to providing immunity against the disease.

The Pakistan Polio Programme has ramped up efforts, conducting mass vaccination drives across the country. The Expanded Programme on Immunization also offers free vaccinations for 12 childhood diseases at health facilities.

Given the ongoing outbreak, health officials urge parents to ensure all children under five are vaccinated to protect them from the crippling effects of polio.

Global experts praise Sindh's anti-polio efforts

The Polio Oversight Board (POB), the apex body overseeing global efforts to eradicate polio, on Friday reviewed the province's progress in the fight against polio.

The POB meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah at his office where attendees included Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director; Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF Regional Director; Aziz Memon, Trustee of the Rotary Foundation; and senior officials from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief).

Also in attendance were key members of the Sindh government, such as Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, and the Coordinator of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) Irshad Sodhar.

The chief minister briefed the delegation on Sindh's accelerated efforts to combat the resurgence of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), with 13 new cases reported this year after 34 months without any new cases. "We have mobilised 4,500 additional staff, engaged parliamentarians in areas with high refusal rates, and achieved a 50% reduction in persistent refusals," he said.

He also highlighted the successful vaccination of over 10.6 million children through recent campaigns, with the support of 20,000 police personnel ensuring safety for frontline workers.