ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) has reported the 56th case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in 2024. The latest case is a 27-month-old male child from Tehsil Darzanda, District DI Khan, who has now registered his own case of polio. Seventh case of polio this year. This increase in cases highlights the growing prevalence in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and emphasizes the need for accelerated efforts to combat the disease.
The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) confirmed the latest case on Wednesday. Officials noted that the region suffers from the highest routine immunization (RI) coverage and continues to face challenges in conducting quality door-to-door vaccination campaigns over the past few years. Southern KP, especially Darzandha, is one of the most inaccessible areas for polio workers due to security concerns. Polio teams and their security forces have faced targeted attacks, severely hampering efforts to get the life-saving vaccine to every child.
The ongoing immunity gap in the region has left children vulnerable to the polio virus, which thrives in such conditions. The nationwide number of WPV1 cases now stands at 56 for 2024, with Balochistan and KP having a combined 41 cases – 26 and 15 respectively. 13 cases have been reported in Sindh while one case each has been recorded in Punjab and Islamabad.