Islamabad: Two recent polio cases in Balochistan have raised Pakistan’s total to 11 this year, intensifying concerns about the persisting presence of the virus in the region. The cases were reported from the union councils of Patri in Jhal Magsi and Maizai in Killa Abdullah, affecting very young children and resulting in paralysis.

According to Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio at the National Institute of Health confirmed these cases. The affected children, a three-year-old from Jhal Magsi and a 1.5-year-old from Killa Abdullah, displayed symptoms in July and June, respectively. This resurgence of polio cases highlights significant challenges in immunization coverage and public health response in the country.

Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, expressed deep concern over the new cases, emphasizing the tragedy for the affected families and the broader implications for Pakistan, one of the few countries still battling the endemic disease. Additionally, Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, remarked on the alarming spread of the virus across 50 districts this year, with a concentrated outbreak in Balochistan.

Captain (R) Anwarul Haq, Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, cited localized protests and security issues as significant obstacles to polio vaccination campaigns in the region. Environmental samples also indicate a widespread presence of the WPV1 strain in several districts, reinforcing the urgency for comprehensive vaccination efforts.

The Polio Programme continues to advocate for widespread immunization to prevent further cases of paralytic polio, urging parents to utilize every opportunity to vaccinate their children under five years of age.