Three new polio cases highlight urgent health crisis in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's fight against polio has reached a critical juncture as three new cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) were confirmed on December 2, 2024. This brings the total number of cases in the country to 59 this year. The cases were reported from DI Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Karachi Keamari (Sindh), and Kashmore (Sindh), marking an alarming spread of the virus.
These cases highlight the urgent need for nationwide action to address this public health crisis. Genetic analysis reveals that all these cases belong to the same virus cluster that has been circulating throughout the year. DI Khan alone has reported eight cases in 2024, Karachi Keamari has three, and Kashmore has registered its first.
The distribution of cases shows a wide geographic spread: 26 in Balochistan, 16 in KP, 15 in Sindh, and one each in Punjab and Islamabad. Despite significant eradication efforts, challenges like vaccination gaps and poor healthcare access persist, underscoring the need for immediate intervention.
Urgent call to action
Polio, a preventable disease, poses a grave threat to children's health and Pakistan's global reputation. Authorities must prioritize vaccination drives, improve outreach in underserved areas, and counter vaccine hesitancy. Failing to do so endangers the lives and futures of millions of children.