Pakistan's polio tally reaches 65 with new case in Balochistan

The National Institute of Health’s Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication has confirmed the 65th case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in Pakistan for the year 2024.

The new case was reported from Killa Abdullah, a district in Balochistan, on Tuesday.

This marks the seventh polio case in Killa Abdullah this year, with the total number of cases in Balochistan reaching 27.

Other provinces have also seen a rise in cases, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh each reporting 18 cases, while Punjab and Islamabad have reported one case each.

Polio is a debilitating and incurable disease that can cause paralysis, making vaccination essential for protection.

The Pakistan Polio Program has been actively conducting vaccination drives, targeting children under the age of five with multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine. Routine immunisation, carried out through the Expanded Programme on Immunization, is also provided at health facilities across the country.

In response to the recent resurgence, a sub-national polio vaccination campaign will begin in Balochistan on December 30. The campaign will cover all 36 districts of the province, focusing on reaching every child to prevent further spread of the virus.

Health authorities are urging parents to ensure that their children receive the necessary vaccinations.

"The timely vaccination of children is crucial in keeping them protected from polio," said a health official. "Parents must support vaccinators and bring their children forward for vaccination during the upcoming campaign."

Photo: FILE

Meanwhile the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government introduced a new policy, deciding not to issue birth, death, and marriage certificates to families who have refused the polio vaccination.

In a bid to enhance the success of the ongoing polio eradication campaign, the provincial government has made it mandatory for individuals to receive polio drops before obtaining these vital documents.

The directive, which primarily targets areas around Peshawar and village councils, aims to ensure that children in these regions are vaccinated against the disease.

Previously a female polio worker was intimidated while on duty. On December 18, the worker was administering polio drops in KDA flats when a man, identified as Faiq, appeared in front of her without clothes. The polio worker immediately reported the incident to her officers as well as to Madadgar 15.

Last week a police constable was killed, and a polio worker was injured when unknown militants opened fire on a vaccination team in Tehsil Banda Daud Shah of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province's Karak district.

The police officer had been assigned to provide security for the team. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation in the region in response to the attack.

Meanwhile another polio vaccination team came under attack in K-P's Bannu district. Further details of casualties from the second incident were not confirmed.