Pakistan polio death toll rises to 55 as 3 more children diagnosed with crippling disease

• One case of polio was reported from Zhob and Jaffarabad districts each.
• Another child contracted the virus in KP taking the provincial toll to 14.
• Polio surveillance board calls for intensive routine vaccination.
  

In an alarming development, the toll of the polio virus in Pakistan has risen to 55 after three more children were diagnosed with the crippling disease, sources said. Geo News on Sunday.

According to details, two new cases of polio have been reported in Balochistan, while a child has been infected with the virus in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing the total in the provinces to 26 and 14, respectively.

Confirming the new cases in Balochistan, the health department said one polio case was reported from Zhob and Jaffarabad districts each.

Zhob district has now reported three, while Jaffarabad district’s tally stands at two polio cases this year, the health department added.

Balochistan has reported the highest number of polio cases in 2024, followed by KP. Sindh has reported 13 cases, while Punjab and Islamabad have each reported one case of polio this year.

The new cases come as Pakistan remains one of the last two countries in the world where the wild polio virus continues to spread.

This persistence is largely attributed to barriers such as insecurity, misinformation and community reluctance, which hinder vaccination efforts.

The highly contagious viral disease mainly affects children under the age of five, especially those with weak immunity or insufficient vaccination.

Health authorities have repeatedly emphasized the importance of vaccination campaigns to curb the spread of this preventable disease, which remains a major public health challenge in the country.

POB calls for intensive vaccination

Meanwhile, increasing cases of the crippling disease have prompted the Polio Surveillance Board (POB) to emphasize the need to intensify routine immunization (RI) efforts in Balochistan and southern KP. The News reported on Sunday.

During a recent visit to the country from 20 to 22 November, the board underlined the importance of ensuring consistent access to vulnerable children and achieving complete eradication of polio from the country.

The POB, the highest decision-making body of the Global Pyelitis Elimination Initiative (GPEI), includes leaders from the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), CDC, Rotary International and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The delegation, led by Dr Chris Elias, included WHO Regional Director Dr Hanan Balkhy, Unicef ​​Regional Director Sanjay Wijesekera, US CDC Deputy Director Andi Fristedt and representatives of KS Relief.

Ayesha Raza Farooq, Prime Minister’s Focal Point for Polio Eradication hosted the delegation at the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC).

“We are tackling the resurgence of the virus on a war footing, using tailored strategies to reach missing children, combat vaccine hesitancy and integrate health services for vulnerable communities,” Farooq said.

The POB also recognized Pakistan’s transparent presentation of its forensic analysis of the ongoing polio epidemic, which clearly outlined the immunity gaps that have accumulated over the years.

Meanwhile, Officials from the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) unveiled the robust National Emergency Action Plan (NEAP) 2024-25 and data-driven 2-4-6 strategy specifically designed to address these gaps in high risk areas.

In addition, the POB delegation also had virtual discussions with the provincial emergency operations centers, reviewing local strategies to deal with the outbreak.

They stressed the need for synchronized vaccination campaigns with Afghanistan to combat cross-border transmission of the virus.