Islamabad: Recent reports from the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme confirm two new cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in children from Balochistan and Sindh, raising Pakistan’s total number of polio cases this year to eight. The affected children, a two-year-old from Killa Abdullah and a three-year-old from Karachi Keamari, experienced the onset of paralysis in late May and early June, respectively.

According to Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, the virus detected in the children’s stool samples is genetically linked to the YB3A cluster, a strain implicated in all reported cases and environmental samples this year. This connection underscores the ongoing challenges faced in eradicating the persistent virus.

Ayesha Raza Farooq, Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio, expressed concern over the continuing threat of polio to Pakistani children. “Until we eradicate this virus, no child anywhere is safe from this terrible disease,” she stated, emphasizing the government’s commitment to leading a rigorous vaccination effort aimed at boosting children’s immunity.

Muhammad Anwarul Haq, Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Center for Polio Eradication, announced that a comprehensive case investigation would be launched to trace the routes of virus transmission and identify unvaccinated populations. This year’s cases include three from Killa Abdullah and one from Karachi, with the remaining four reported from other areas of Balochistan.

Poliovirus predominantly affects malnourished children with weakened immunity, often due to insufficient vaccination. The Polio Programme is set to launch a major vaccination drive from July 1 to July 7, targeting over 9.5 million children across 41 districts. This initiative is part of a broader effort to mobilize community support from parents, caregivers, religious leaders, teachers, and community elders to ensure comprehensive vaccination coverage.