Two new polio cases in Karachi East and Sujawal districts have raised Pakistan’s polio tally to 26 for the year. This resurgence marks a significant setback for the government’s polio eradication efforts. The latest cases involve a seven-year-old girl in Karachi East and a 12-month-old boy in Sujawal’s Tehsil Jati.
Polio is a highly infectious disease that primarily affects children under five, particularly those who are malnourished or under-vaccinated. The virus attacks the nervous system, causing paralysis or death. Although there is no cure, vaccination remains the most effective preventive measure.
The new cases were confirmed by the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health. Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, expressed regret over the rise in cases, emphasizing the critical importance of vaccination to prevent the irreversible damage caused by the disease.
Pakistan remains one of the two polio-endemic countries, alongside Afghanistan. Despite significant drops in yearly cases, the recent spike underscores the need for robust vaccination campaigns and heightened public awareness.
The Pakistan Polio Programme has developed a strategic plan to halt virus transmission by mid-2025. This plan focuses on reaching every child in high-risk areas, improving vaccination campaign quality, and strengthening community engagement. A recent mass vaccination campaign in September targeted 33 million children under five across 115 districts, with another round scheduled for October 28, focusing on mobile and migrant populations.
Out of the 26 cases reported this year, 15 are from Balochistan, seven from Sindh, two from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and one each from Punjab and Islamabad【30†source】 .
