Pakistan confirms 71st Polio case of 2024 from Jacobabad, Sindh

KARACHI: Pakistan’s fight against polio continues as health authorities confirmed the 71st case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) for the year 2024, involving a child from Jacobabad district in Sindh. Officials from the National Institute of Health (NIH) disclosed that symptoms in the affected child emerged on December 27, categorizing it as a case from last year.

“Jacobabad has now reported five cases of polio in 2024,” health officials stated. According to updated provincial statistics, Balochistan remains the most affected with 27 cases, followed by Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 21 cases each. Punjab and Islamabad reported one case each, reflecting the widespread persistence of the virus across multiple regions.

Earlier in January this year, environmental samples from 17 districts, including Islamabad, Quetta, Lahore, and Gujranwala, tested positive for wild poliovirus, underscoring the virus’s circulation and the need for intensified immunization campaigns. Experts warn that sewage detection of poliovirus indicates community spread, even when clinical cases are not immediately evident.

“Polio vaccination campaigns are crucial to protecting children from lifelong paralysis,” said a senior health official. “Timely reporting, robust immunization efforts, and community participation remain the backbone of polio eradication strategies.”

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries where wild poliovirus remains endemic. Despite significant progress in eradication efforts, challenges like vaccine hesitancy, access issues in conflict-prone regions, and operational difficulties hinder the complete elimination of the disease.

Public health authorities are urging families to ensure that children under the age of five receive polio vaccinations during national and provincial immunization drives. The country’s polio eradication program aims to counter environmental detection with proactive measures to prevent further cases.