Pakistan confirms 72nd polio case of 2024 from KP's DI Khan

• Latest case involves girl from KP's DI Khan. 
• This confirmation marks DI Khan's 11th case. 
• Pakistan reported case from Jacobabad yesterday. 

In a concerning development, Pakistan on Wednesday confirmed another case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) for 2024, taking the total tally of the country to 72. 

According to the health officials, the latest case involves a girl from Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The samples from the affected girl were taken on December 31, 2024. 

This confirmation marks the 11th reported polio case from DI Khan, underscoring ongoing challenges in the fight against the disease despite repeated mass vaccination drives.

A day earlier, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) confirmed 71st case in Sindh's Jacobabad.

The national tally for WPV1 cases in 2024 now stands at 72, with Balochistan reporting the highest number at 27 cases, followed by 21 each from Sindh, 22 from KP, 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.