Polio's 2024 tally reaches 71 as virus cripples another child in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Another poliovirus case has been detected in Pakistan, bringing the tally to 71 in 2024, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) confirmed on Tuesday.

The case involves a young male child from Jacobabad, Sindh, with the onset of symptoms reported on December 27, 2024.

This confirmation marks the fifth reported polio case from Jacobabad alone, underscoring ongoing challenges in the fight against the disease despite repeated mass vaccination drives.

The national tally for WPV1 cases in 2024 now stands at 71, with Balochistan reporting the highest number at 27 cases, followed by 21 each from Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.

Health officials stressed that polio remains a paralysing disease with no known cure, emphasising the critical need for vaccination.

"Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine immunisation 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 immunisation 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.

The 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 emphasise that continued public cooperation is essential to achieving polio-free status.

The upcoming nationwide vaccination drive will mobilise thousands of health workers to deliver vaccines to children at their doorsteps and health centres, 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.

The 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.