Pakistan’s polio toll rises to 55 with three new cases reported

Pakistan’s total poliovirus cases have climbed to 55 after three more children were diagnosed with the crippling disease, sources told Geo News on Sunday.

Two new cases were reported in Balochistan, while one child was affected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), bringing the total in the provinces to 26 and 14, respectively, the sources added.

The Balochistan health department confirmed the new cases, stating that one was reported each from Zhob and Jaffarabad districts.

District Zhob has now reported three, whereas District Jaffarabad’s tally stands at two polio cases in the ongoing year, added the health department.

Balochistan has reported the highest number of poliovirus cases in 2024 followed by KP. Sindh has reported 13 cases, whereas Punjab and Islamabad have each reported one case of polio this year.

The fresh cases come as Pakistan remains one of the last two countries in the world where the wild poliovirus continues to spread.

This persistence is largely attributed to obstacles such as insecurity, misinformation, and community reluctance, which hinder vaccination efforts.

The highly contagious viral disease predominantly affects children under five, particularly those with weak immunity or inadequate vaccination.

health authorities have time and again underscored the importance of vaccination campaigns to curb the spread of this preventable disease, which remains a significant public health challenge in the country.

POB urges intensified vaccination

Meanwhile, the increasing cases of the crippling disease have prompted the Polio Oversight Board (POB) to emphasise the need to intensify routine immunisation (RI) efforts in Balochistan and south KP, The News reported on Sunday.

During a recent visit to the country from November 20 to 22, the board underscored the significance of ensuring consistent access to vulnerable children and achieving complete eradication of polio from the country.

The POB, the highest decision-making body under the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), comprises leaders from the World health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), the CDC, Rotary International and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The delegation, led by Dr Chris Elias, included WHO Regional Director Dr Hanan Balkhy, Unicef Regional Director Sanjay Wijesekera, US CDC Deputy Director Andi Fristedt, and representatives from KS Relief.

Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, hosted the delegation at the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC).

“We are tackling the virus resurgence on a war footing, using tailored strategies to reach missed children, combat vaccine hesitancy, and integrate health services for vulnerable communities,” said Farooq.

The POB also acknowledged Pakistan’s transparent presentation of the forensic analysis of the ongoing polio outbreak, which clearly outlined immunity gaps that have accumulated over the years.

Meanwhile, Officials from Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) showcased their robust National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) 2024-25 and the data-driven 2-4-6 strategy, specifically designed to address these gaps in high-risk areas.

Furthermore, the POB delegation also held virtual discussions with the provincial emergency operations centres, reviewing localised strategies to address the outbreak.

They underscored the need for synchronised vaccination campaigns with Afghanistan to combat cross-border virus transmission.