Polio in Pakistan: 65th case confirmed in 2024
In Pakistan, officials with the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of the 65th wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) case of 2024 from the country.
On Tuesday, December 24, the lab confirmed the case from Killa Abdullah. This is the seventh polio case from Killa Abdullah this year.
Pakistan is responding to the resurgence of WPV1 this year with 65 cases reported so far. Of these, 27 are from Balochistan, 18 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 18 from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
The December sub-national Polio vaccination campaign in Balochistan province is scheduled to begin on December 30, during which all 36 districts of the province will be targeted for vaccination. To keep children safe, it is critical for parents to welcome vaccinators among them and bring their children forward for vaccination.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative has worked hand in hand with governments and global partners to eradicate poliovirus worldwide, bringing about a substantial 99% reduction in global cases. However, wild poliovirus - remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and interrupting virus transmission in this one epidemiological block is critical to reaching zero polio.
Benefiting from the unwavering commitment of the Government of Pakistan, the National Polio Eradication Programme remains steadfast in its mission to eradicate poliovirus, ensuring a healthier future for children, both within the country and globally. Despite significant strides, several challenges persist, leaving a significant number of children with suboptimal immunity due to the complex socioeconomic and security environment in the - polio high-risk areas. Besides the programme’s - operational gaps, inconsistent access to all vulnerable children on account of insecurity, vaccine hesitancy, refusals, demand-based boycotts and massive population movements continue to hinder achieving zero polio in the country. To finish the job, the Programme has developed a detailed, comprehensive roadmap to enhance operational and managerial capacities to eradication levels and ensure that the circulation of poliovirus is interrupted across the country by June 2025.