Daily Times

Pakistan has confirmed its 49th case of wild poliovirus (WPV1) for 2024, with the latest case reported from Jaffarabad district in Balochistan.

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health in Islamabad confirmed the detection on Thursday, November 14.

Genetic sequencing of the virus samples collected indicates a connection to the WPV1 strain detected in Pishin earlier this year. This is the first reported polio case from Jaffarabad, which shares borders with Nasirabad, Jhal Magsi, Jacobabad, and Kambar districts, all of which have recently reported WPV1 presence in sewage samples or human cases.

Balochistan remains the most affected province in 2024, with 24 reported cases. Sindh has reported 13 cases, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 10, and Punjab and Islamabad one case each.

Health authorities continue to encourage widespread vaccination to control the virus, urging parents to ensure their children receive multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine.

An estimated 500,000 Pakistani children missed polio vaccinations during this month’s nationwide inoculation drive, confirmed the country’s chief health official to foreign media outlet. The primary reasons cited were refusal to vaccinate or unavailability due to travel during the campaign.

The rising number of cases prompted the government to launch a nationwide vaccination campaign from October 28 to November 3, to vaccinate over 45 million children.

Polio continues to be endemic in Pakistan, one of only two countries worldwide where the disease remains a serious concern. The campaign faces numerous challenges, including misinformation, vaccine refusal, and violent attacks on health workers by militants.

Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, Pakistan’s coordinator on national health services, told Arab News that despite the setback, the government is committed to tracking down and vaccinating the missing children. “We will chase them, we will track them, and we will vaccinate them,” Bharath said.

The resurgence of polio cases in Pakistan is alarming, especially after a significant decline in cases over the past few years. In 2023, Pakistan reported only six cases, but this year the figure has sharply risen. This surge is partly due to a large number of unvaccinated Afghan refugees who were repatriated and moved across the country, carrying the virus.

The security situation in some areas has also hindered vaccination efforts, with attacks on polio teams and law enforcement personnel increasing in recent months. Last month, a bomb blast targeted police protecting polio workers, killing five children and two police officers.