Islamabad: Two new cases of polio have been reported from the regions of Jhal Magsi and Killa Abdullah in Balochistan, indicating ongoing challenges in eradicating the disease in Pakistan. These recent cases have increased the national total to 11 for the year 2024.

According to Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio at the National Institute of Health confirmed the cases in young children from the union councils of Patri in Jhal Magsi and Maizai in Killa Abdullah. Both children have experienced paralysis in their limbs, with the virus in Jhal Magsi linked to another recent case in Usta Muhammad.

Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, expressed deep concern over the impact of polio on the country’s youth, emphasizing the personal and national tragedy of continued polio incidence. Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, noted that Balochistan is particularly hard-hit, with multiple districts affected despite ongoing efforts to control the virus’s spread.

Captain (R) Anwarul Haq, Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, highlighted the adverse effects of local protests and security issues on polio vaccination campaigns in Balochistan. These disruptions have left significant gaps in immunity, particularly in remote districts, increasing the vulnerability of children to polio.

The report also mentions that WPV1, a poliovirus strain, has been detected in environmental samples across various districts, underscoring the pervasive risk of polio in the region. The Polio Programme continues to urge comprehensive vaccination efforts to protect all children under five from this crippling disease.