Polio Resurgence in Pakistan: A National Health Crisis

Pakistan has reported its 68th polio case of the year, frustrating national efforts to eradicate the disease. This new case was confirmed in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Polio persists in Pakistan despite extensive vaccination efforts due to ongoing vaccine hesitancy and misinformation among parents.

Pakistan has confirmed its 68th polio case of the year, dealing a significant setback to the country's ongoing battle against the crippling disease. This latest case was identified in the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the National Institutes of Health.

To date, the distribution of cases includes 27 in Balochistan, 20 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 19 in Sindh, with lone cases in Punjab and Islamabad. Despite repeated mass vaccination campaigns throughout 2024, aimed at immunizing children under five at their homes, the virus persists.

A six-day sub-national polio vaccination effort from December 16 to 22 reached over 42 million children across several provinces. However, vaccine hesitancy driven by myths surrounding the vaccine continues to hinder progress. Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where polio is endemic.

(With inputs from agencies.)