Pakistan reported another case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 72 for 2024.
The latest case involves a girl from Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with samples from the affected girl taken on December 31, 2024, according to health officials.
This confirmation marks the 11th reported polio case from DI Khan, highlighting the ongoing challenges in the fight against the disease despite repeated mass vaccination drives.
A day earlier, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) confirmed the 71st case in Jacobabad, Sindh.
The national tally for WPV1 cases in 2024 now stands at 72, with Balochistan reporting the highest number at 27 cases, followed by 21 each from Sindh, 22 from KP, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
Health officials emphasized that polio remains a paralysing disease with no known cure, stressing the critical importance of vaccination.
“Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine immunization schedule for children under five are essential to building immunity against this devastating virus,” a senior health official said.
To counter the resurgence, the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, in collaboration with the Expanded Program on Immunisation (EPI), continues to conduct nationwide mass vaccination campaigns.
The EPI also provides immunization services against 12 childhood diseases free of charge at health facilities across the country.
The year’s first nationwide polio vaccination campaign is scheduled from February 3 to February 9, 2025.
Health authorities have urged parents to ensure that all children under five receive the vaccine during the campaign.
Efforts to eradicate polio in Pakistan have faced multiple challenges, including vaccine hesitancy and logistical hurdles in remote regions. However, health officials remain committed to eliminating the virus, citing significant progress in reducing cases over the years.
Despite setbacks, experts emphasize that continued public cooperation is essential to achieving polio-free status.
The upcoming nationwide vaccination drive will mobilize thousands of health workers to deliver vaccines to children at their doorsteps and health centers, ensuring no child is left behind in the fight against polio.
Efforts are being coordinated with community leaders and international health agencies to strengthen public awareness and trust in vaccination efforts.
Officials remain hopeful that a sustained, concerted effort will turn the tide against the resurgence and ultimately lead to Pakistan’s success in eradicating the virus.
