Polio cripples child in Balochistan

ISLAMABAD: Polio has crippled another child in Pakistan where a one-and-a-half-year-old boy from the Killa Abdullah district of Balochistan has been tested positive for the virus. This marks the 65th case of the crippling disease reported in the country in 2024, officials said on Tuesday.

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health confirmed the detection of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in the Killa Abdullah case on December 24. The child from Union Council Sagai, Tehsil Gulistan of Killa Abdullah, who is malnourished and has a history of repeated diarrheal episodes, is the seventh polio victim from Killa Abdullah and the 14th from the Quetta block this year.

According to the Pakistan Polio Program, the virus strain is genetically linked to an environmental sample detected in Sibi in August 2024, underscoring the challenges in controlling polio transmission in high-risk areas of Balochistan. The Quetta block, comprising districts such as Killa Abdullah, Quetta, and Pishin, has emerged as a critical region for polio eradication efforts, accounting for a significant share of Balochistan’s 27 cases this year. Nationwide, polio cases have been reported as follows: 27 in Balochistan, 18 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 18 in Sindh, and one each in Punjab and Islamabad.

Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) officials attribute the persistence of polio cases in these areas to malnutrition, poor hygiene, and gaps in immunization coverage. Despite repeated vaccination drives, the virus continues to pose a significant threat to children under five, especially in underserved communities.

Authorities have renewed their call to parents to ensure their children receive multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and complete routine immunization schedules. “Every missed child poses a threat not only to themselves but to the entire community,” said Anwar-ul-Haq, National Coordinator of the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for polio eradication. He emphasized that sustained efforts from both the government and the community were essential to eradicate this preventable disease. To counter the resurgence of polio, Pakistan’s Polio Program conducts multiple mass vaccination campaigns annually, bringing vaccines to children at their doorsteps. The Expanded Programme on Immunization also provides free vaccines against 12 childhood diseases at health facilities nationwide. In Balochistan, the next sub-national polio vaccination campaign is set to begin on December 30, targeting all 36 districts of the province. Health officials are urging parents to cooperate with vaccinators and ensure their children are vaccinated during the drive. “Polio has no cure, but it is preventable through vaccination,” a health expert stated, highlighting that multiple doses are necessary to build immunity against the virus. As Pakistan struggles with the resurgence of polio, government and health authorities are under pressure to bridge gaps in immunization coverage and address underlying issues such as malnutrition and poor hygiene. Collaborative efforts involving parents, community leaders, and health workers are crucial to overcoming the barriers to a polio-free Pakistan.