Pakistan Faces Setback as Twelfth Polio Case of the Year Reported

Pakistan has reported its twelfth polio case this year, double the tally from last year, raising concerns about the country's efforts to eradicate the disease. The latest case, involving a six-year-old male in Punjab's Chakwal district, marks the first in the province in four years.

Pakistan has reported its twelfth polio case of the year, doubling last year's total and challenging the country's efforts to eradicate the disease, media sources confirmed on Sunday.

The recent case emerged in Punjab province's Chakwal district on Saturday, involving a six-year-old boy, as reported by the Dawn newspaper. According to an official from the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication, this is Punjab's first case in four years.

The number of cases has reached 12 nationwide, surpassing last year's total of six, signaling a deteriorating polio situation. "The latest case involves a child over six years old, possibly indicating immunity-related issues," the official stated.

On Saturday, national Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) officials confirmed two new cases in Balochistan, raising the province's total to nine, according to Geo News. Last month, Pakistan recorded its ninth polio case of the year in Balochistan's Zhob district.

Epidemiologists highlight significant challenges to the polio program, including local protests, security concerns, and vaccine hesitancy, which have disrupted vaccination drives. Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where polio is still endemic, the World Health Organization reports.

(With inputs from agencies.)