Islamabad: A new case of polio has emerged from Kharan district in Balochistan, marking the 15th instance of the disease in Pakistan for the year 2024. The detection underscores the ongoing challenge the country faces in eradicating the poliovirus, particularly in regions disrupted by vaccination campaign interruptions last year.

According to Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health confirmed the presence of the poliovirus in a 23-month-old child. The Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq, highlighted that Balochistan is experiencing an intense outbreak of WPV1, with children who missed vaccinations last year now showing vulnerability to the virus. The affected child was also battling malnutrition and has sadly passed away.

Efforts are being intensified to counter the spread of the virus with a new polio vaccination campaign scheduled for early September, aimed at increasing immunization rates in polio hotspots across Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh. This campaign will align with similar efforts in Afghanistan to bolster immunity across the cross-border region, reflecting a coordinated approach to polio eradication.

Anwarul Haq, Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Center, emphasized that the upcoming campaign would prioritize high-risk districts where the virus detection has been notably high, including Quetta and Karachi blocs. The program’s goal is to ensure that no child is missed in these critical areas as they push to halt virus transmission and safeguard public health.

This recent case from Kharan is the first from the district this year and adds to the growing number of cases primarily in Balochistan, with other cases reported from Sindh and Punjab.