The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication of the National Institute of Health confirmed the 65th case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in Pakistan for the year 2024.
The new case was reported on Tuesday from Killa Abdullah, a district of Balochistan.
This is the seventh case of polio in Killa Abdullah this year, taking the total number of cases in Balochistan to 27.
Other provinces have also seen a rise in cases: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh reported 18 cases each, while Punjab and Islamabad reported one case each.
Polio is a debilitating, incurable disease that can cause paralysis, so vaccination is essential for protection.
The Pakistan Polio Program has been actively carrying out vaccination campaigns targeting children under five years of age with multiple doses of oral polio vaccine. Routine immunization, carried out through the Expanded Program on Immunization, is also offered in health centers throughout the country.
In response to the recent resurgence, a subnational polio vaccination campaign will begin in Balochistan on December 30. The campaign will cover all 36 districts of the province and will focus on reaching all children to prevent further spread of the virus.
Health authorities urge parents to ensure their children receive the necessary vaccines.
“Timely vaccination of children is crucial to keep them protected against polio,” said a health official. “Parents should support vaccinators and take their children to be vaccinated during the next campaign.”
Photo: ARCHIVE
Meanwhile, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government introduced a new policy and decided not to issue birth, death and marriage certificates to families who have refused polio vaccination.
In a bid to improve the success of the current polio eradication campaign, the provincial government has made it mandatory for people to receive polio drops before obtaining these vital documents.
The directive, which mainly targets areas around Peshawar and village councils, aims to ensure that children in these regions are vaccinated against the disease.
Previously, a polio worker was intimidated while on duty. On December 18, the worker was administering anti-polio pills on KDA floors when a man, identified as Faiq, appeared in front of her without clothes. The polio worker immediately reported the incident to her agents and Madadgar 15.
Last week, a police officer was killed and an anti-polio worker was injured when unknown militants opened fire on a vaccination team in Tehsil Banda Daud Shah in Karak district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
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 was attacked in Bannu district of KP. No further details about the victims of the second incident were confirmed.
