Islamabad, August 02, 2024 – Two new polio cases have been reported from Balochistan in the past week, bringing the number of cases in the country in 2024 to 11.   

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the new polio cases from union council Patri of Jhal Magsi, where a three-year-old child is affected; and union council Maizai of Killa Abdullah, where a 1.5-year-old child is affected by paralysis in the limbs.  

The affected child from Jhal Magsi showed symptoms of paralysis on July 5 and the isolated virus is linked to a virus detected in Usta Muhammad in July, while the child from Killa Abdullah showed symptoms on June 10 and genetic sequencing of the virus is underway.

“This terrible disease has once again ruined the future of two more Pakistani children, leaving them paralyzed for life,” said Coordinator to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmed Bharath, adding that this is a tragedy not just for the families but also the country which remains polio endemic. 

Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq said that while the virus has been found in over 50 districts this year, Balochistan, in particular, is facing an outbreak, with nine cases reported from six districts across the province.

“The Polio Programme is conducting a comprehensive risk assessment of the situation and strategizing on an action plan to address the immunity gaps that have left children vulnerable to the viral infection in Balochistan and throughout the country,” she said.

Captain (R) Anwarul Haq, Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, said the Polio Programme had been facing disruptions in polio campaigns in recent months in Balochistan.

“Localised protests and insecurity have disrupted polio campaigns which could not be implemented in several districts of Balochistan, leaving children vulnerable to the disease,” he said. “This outbreak is a harsh reminder of the harm that children suffer when they remain deprived of the polio vaccine. Every missed vaccination opportunity provides an opportunity for the virus to hurt children.”

WPV1 has also been found in environmental samples of one new and seven previously positive districts. Samples collected between July 8 and July 10 from Khuzdar, Quetta, Dukki, Karachi East, Karachi Malir, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Gujranwala have tested positive for the virus.

Pakistan has reported 11 polio cases so far this year, while the virus has been detected in 57 districts, highlighting the constant risk to children’s wellbeing. The Polio Programme urges parents across the country to get all children under the age of five vaccinated with the oral polio drops at every opportunity to keep them protected from paralytic polio.

Note for Editor:

Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by poliovirus mainly affecting children under the age of five years. It invades the nervous system and can cause paralysis or even death. While there is no cure for polio, vaccination is the most effective way to protect children from this crippling disease. Each time a child under the age of five is vaccinated, their protection against the virus is increased. Repeated immunisations have protected millions of children from polio, allowing almost all countries in the world to become polio-free, except for the two endemic countries of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

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