Polio outbreak worsens as 3 new cases take 2024 tally to 55

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s polio crisis deepens as three more children were confirmed paralyzed by wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), pushing the total number of cases to 55 this year, Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) officials said on Saturday.

Among the newly affected are an 8-month-old girl from DI Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a 20-month-old girl from Zhob, and a 5-month-old boy from Jaffarabad in Balochistan.

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health confirmed the cases on Saturday. DI Khan, a district in south KP grappling with an intense outbreak, has now reported six cases this year, with Tehsil Darazinda identified as a hotspot. Balochistan’s districts of Zhob and Jaffarabad have recorded their third and second cases, respectively, reflecting persistent virus circulation in these regions.

DI Khan and Zhob are among the seven polio-endemic districts of south KP and Balochistan facing significant challenges, including security threats and vaccine accessibility issues. These areas have long struggled with suboptimal immunization rates, allowing the virus to thrive and strike the most vulnerable. Of the 55 cases reported in Pakistan this year, 26 are from Balochistan, 14 from KP, 13 from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad. The figures highlight the vast immunity gaps, particularly in the three smaller provinces, where routine immunization remains below optimal levels.