Another case of polio was reported in Sindh, taking the national toll to 47

• After the latest outbreak, Sindh’s polio case tally stands at 13.
• Wild poliovirus detected in male child from Ghotki.
• Genetic sequencing of samples in progress.

Amid an alarming spread of the polio virus, another case of the highly contagious disease was reported in Sindh’s Ghotki district, bringing the national toll for the year to 47, the Pakistan Polio Eradication Program announced on Friday.

“The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institutes of Health has confirmed the detection of the 47th case of wild poliomyelitis Type 1 (WPV1) in Pakistan,” the statement said.

On November 8, 2024, the laboratory confirmed the detection of WPV1 in a male child from Ghotki, he said, adding that it was the first case of polio from the area.

So far, 23 cases have been reported from Balochistan, 13 from Sindh, 09 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 01 each from Punjab and Islamabad. Genetic sequencing of samples collected from the child is ongoing, the release added.

With Pakistan being one of two countries where wild polio transmission has not been eradicated, health officials are urging parents to actively participate in the upcoming national polio vaccination campaign.

Officials stress the importance of full participation as insufficient vaccination coverage leaves communities vulnerable to the continued spread and resurgence of polio.

Polio is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that mainly affects children under the age of five who are malnourished or have weak immune systems because they have not been vaccinated or vaccinated against polio and other childhood diseases.

The disease invades the nervous system and causes paralysis or even death. Although there is no cure for polio, vaccination is the most effective way to protect children from this devastating disease.

Pakistan’s rigorous polio eradication efforts face significant challenges, particularly in areas where insecurity, misinformation and parental refusals hamper vaccination campaigns.