Pakistan hits unwanted milestone as 50th polio case reported

This is second polio case reported from Tank, one of KP’s polio-endemic districts

By M. Waqar Bhatti
November 20, 2024
A health worker (centre) administering polio drops to a child during a door-to-door poliovirus vaccination campaign on the outskirts of Peshawar. — AFP/file
A health worker (centre) administering polio drops to a child during a door-to-door poliovirus vaccination campaign on the outskirts of Peshawar. — AFP/file

ISLAMABAD: A 20-month-old girl from Tank district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has been paralyzed by wild poliovirus (WPV1), marking Pakistan’s 50th polio case of the year. Health officials confirmed the case on Tuesday, raising fresh alarms about the country’s ongoing struggle to eradicate the disease.

This is the second polio case reported from Tank, one of KP’s polio-endemic districts, which has also recorded multiple positive environmental samples this year. Across Pakistan, the virus continues to pose a significant threat, with 24 cases reported from Balochistan, 13 from Sindh, 11 from KP and one each from Punjab and Islamabad in 2024.

Genetic sequencing of the latest case reveals that the virus is genetically linked to a WPV1 strain detected in Tank in July, indicating sustained circulation in the area. Experts fear that Pakistan could report up to 10 more cases by the year’s end, particularly from high-risk districts in southern KP and Balochistan, pushing the total to a grim 60 cases.

Tank, situated in southern KP, has been a hotbed of poliovirus circulation this year. Along with two reported cases, it has produced numerous positive sewage samples, underscoring the virus’s continued spread.