Islamabad: Pakistan’s battle against polio has intensified with four new cases reported, bringing the total to 32 this year. Health authorities are urging parents to vaccinate their children against this debilitating virus during a nationwide campaign starting October 28.

According to Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, Ms. Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, emphasized the urgency of the situation. She highlighted that every case of paralytic polio suggests that hundreds more children could be silently infected, spreading the virus across communities. Ms. Farooq described the recent spike in cases as a dire wake-up call for all parents and guardians to ensure their children receive vaccinations.

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health recently confirmed the presence of wild poliovirus type 1 in children from Jacobabad, Karachi Malir, and DI Khan districts. Mr. Anwarul Haq, Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, revealed that the virus has also been detected in sewage samples from these areas, indicating widespread circulation.

The upcoming nationwide campaign aims to vaccinate over 45 million children to protect them from the irreversible effects of polio, alongside a broader immunization effort targeting 12 childhood diseases. Health officials are calling on community leaders, educators, and families to participate actively in ensuring comprehensive vaccination coverage.