ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s anti-polio program announced on Tuesday that four new cases of the polio virus have been confirmed in the country, raising the total number of cases for this year to 32.
The National Institute of Health in Islamabad confirmed that three cases were detected in Sindh province and one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Among the new cases are a six-year-old child from UC Ibrahim Hyderi in Malir, Karachi, one case from UC Thul Toshe in Jacobabad, and a 22-month-old child from UC Murga in Dera Ismail Khan. Genetic analysis of these cases is currently underway.
Out of the 32 reported cases, 16 are from Balochistan, 10 from Sindh, four from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one from Punjab, and one from the capital territory, Islamabad. The rise in cases has raised concerns about the effectiveness of vaccination efforts in the country.
Health officials have emphasized the urgent need for immunization and urged parents to ensure their children receive all recommended vaccines. Pakistan remains one of only two countries, alongside Afghanistan, where polio is still endemic.
Since late 2018, Pakistan has experienced a resurgence of polio cases, underscoring the fragility of progress achieved in previous years; the country reported only six polio cases in 2023.
