Polio Cases Surge: Pakistan Faces Tough Battle with 39 Cases in 2024

Pakistan records 39 polio cases this year, with recent reports highlighting new cases in Sindh and Balochistan. The country's struggle to eradicate polio continues as health officials confirm the spread across multiple regions, with Balochistan bearing the brunt with 20 cases.

Two new polio cases have been reported in Pakistan, raising this year's total to 39, according to ARY News. The latest cases were recorded in Sindh's Sanghar and Mirpur Khas districts, highlighting ongoing health challenges in the country.

The National Reference Lab of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) confirmed the new infections. This adds to the recently reported three cases from Balochistan, escalating the province's total to 20 this year. The cases were identified in Chaman, Pishin, and Nushki, affecting children aged between nine months to five years, as disclosed by local health authorities.

Friday also saw another case in Quetta, bringing the city's total to three, with environmental samples showing widespread virus presence. Balochistan emerges as the hardest-hit region, followed by Sindh with 10 cases, while scattered cases also appear in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Islamabad.

(With inputs from agencies.)