ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reported another polio case in its southwestern Balochistan province, bringing the total number of infected children in the South Asian country this year to 41.
The Emergency Operations Center for Polio confirmed the detection of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in a 42-month-old girl from Loralai District, Balochistan. The infected child experienced the onset of paralysis on October 8 and laboratory tests, on Friday, confirmed that she had contracted WPV1.
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Data from the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme shows that so far in 2024, Pakistan has documented 41 polio cases, highlighting a troubling increase in infections, particularly in Balochistan and Sindh.
According to the Data, the number of polio cases in Balochistan now stands at 21, while Sindh has recorded 12 cases, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa six cases, and both Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) have recorded one case each.
Despite ongoing vaccination efforts, health officials are concerned about the virus’s continued spread. In 2023, Pakistan reported only six polio cases—four in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and two in Sindh, while there was only one case in 2021.
In terms of funding, the National Polio Eradication Programme received $180 million in 2022, which increased to $187 million in 2023. For 2024, the programme has been allocated $80 million.
The Ministry of Health emphasized that since January 2022, a total of $447 million has been spent on polio eradication efforts, underscoring the government’s commitment to eliminating the disease from the country.
