By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reported two new polio cases on Wednesday, bringing this year’s total to 28, a setback for efforts to eradicate the disease in a country where vaccination drives have been hampered by security concerns and misinformation.
A 36-month-old girl from Zhob in Balochistan and a seven-month-old girl from Tank in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) were paralyzed by the wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), officials said.
The National Institute of Health’s Regional Reference Laboratory confirmed the cases, which bring KP’s tally to three and Balochistan’s to 16. Seven cases have been reported in Sindh and one each in Punjab and Islamabad. Balochistan has become the epicentre of the outbreak.
Previous sewage samples from both districts had already detected the virus, indicating ongoing transmission and risk to children’s health.
“It is heartbreaking that Pakistani children are still being threatened by a disease that can be easily prevented with the help of an easily available polio vaccine,” Ayesha Raza Farooq, Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, said. “Once a child is paralyzed by polio, the damage is irreversible, but repeated vaccinations can prevent it.”
Farooq stressed the urgency of the situation. “We urge parents to make sure that children up to five years old receive the polio vaccines to effectively eradicate the disease.”
Pakistan, along with neighbouring Afghanistan, remains one of the last two polio-endemic countries globally. Despite significant progress since the launch of its eradication program in 1994, Pakistan has seen a resurgence of cases since late 2018, highlighting the fragility of gains made in the preceding years.
The country has faced numerous challenges in its fight against polio, including militancy, which has resulted in attacks on polio workers, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The Pakistan Polio Programme aims to interrupt transmission by mid-2025 through a strategic plan focusing on high-risk areas, improved vaccination campaigns, and community engagement. These efforts aim to close immunity gaps and curb the spread of poliovirus. However, ensuring the safety of frontline workers and addressing ongoing disruptions remain critical concerns.
A recent mass vaccination campaign targeted 33 million children under five across 115 districts, with another round scheduled for Oct. 28.
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