Pakistan has reported its 16th case of polio for 2024 following the confirmation of wild Poliovirus type-1 (WPV1) in a 29-month-old girl from Hyderabad district in Sindh province. This case marks a significant concern for health authorities as poliovirus traces have been detected in 62 districts across the country, a sharp rise from 28 districts last year.
According to an official from the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad, the latest case highlights the ongoing threat of polio despite efforts to combat the disease. The girl, from Hyderabad, is the third case reported in Sindh and the 16th in Pakistan this year. The breakdown of the cases reveals that 12 have been from Balochistan, three from Sindh, and one from Punjab.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, emphasized the gravity of the situation. “The latest case is a clear reminder that until we eradicate this virus from our country, no child anywhere is safe from its devastating effects,” she stated. Farooq highlighted that traces of WPV1 have been persistently found in Hyderabad’s sewage samples for the past four months, underscoring the continuous risk of polio transmission.
In response to the escalating outbreak, Pakistan’s polio eradication program is set to launch a large-scale vaccination campaign on September 9. Farooq revealed that the campaign will be implemented on an emergency footing across all provinces to halt the virus’s spread. The program aims to boost children’s immunity and counter the virus’s persistence in various regions.
Muhammad Anwar-ul-Haq, coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, assured that a thorough investigation is underway to trace the virus’s origins and enhance vaccination coverage. He noted that polio has been circulating in adjacent districts of Karachi and Hyderabad for several months, highlighting the need for urgent intervention.
Despite global progress in eliminating polio, the virus continues to affect parts of Pakistan, India, Nigeria, and Afghanistan. In Pakistan, particularly in conservative tribal areas, polio vaccination efforts face resistance due to misconceptions and opposition. In 2012, local Taliban factions imposed a ban on polio immunization in some tribal districts, complicating eradication efforts.
The upcoming vaccination campaign represents a critical step in combating the polio outbreak and safeguarding children’s health across Pakistan.
Sources By Agencies
