With six new polio cases, Pakistan’s 2024 tally rises to 39 

ISLAMABAD: In an alarming development, the country’s health authorities have confirmed six more cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), bringing the total number of infections this year to 39. 
The latest cases were reported in Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, highlighting the persistent threat posed by the virus, which can cause permanent paralysis in children.
Balochistan has been the most affected province, with 20 cases, followed by Sindh with 12, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with five. Punjab and Islamabad have each reported one case. 
Despite near-global eradication, Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the last countries where polio is endemic, underscoring the urgency for strengthened vaccination efforts.
"This should be a wake-up call for all parents and communities," says Ms. Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister's Focal Person for Polio Eradication. "Each paralytic polio case indicates that hundreds of children may be silently carrying and spreading the virus."
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also reported 18 cases of polio in Afghanistan this year, mainly in the southern region. In response, Pakistan is set to launch a nationwide polio vaccination campaign on October 28, aiming to immunize more than 45 million children under five against the disease.
Despite progress earlier this year, with only six cases recorded before the recent surge, significant challenges persist. 
Melissa Corkum, Chief of UNICEF’s Polio Team in Pakistan, cites population mobility, security concerns in high-risk regions, and vaccine hesitancy as major obstacles to polio eradication. Misinformation spread by hardline clerics and militants has further fueled vaccination resistance in some communities, she adds.
"Security concerns have previously disrupted vaccination campaigns, leaving children exposed to the virus," Ms. Corkum deplores, saying this year, attacks targeting polio vaccinators and their security escorts have resulted in at least 15 deaths, predominantly of police officers.
As the country gears up for the upcoming vaccination drive, health officials are calling on communities to prioritize the health of their children by participating in immunization efforts.