On Friday, Islamabad reported its first case of polio in 16 years, bringing Pakistan’s total for the year to 17. Despite ongoing efforts to eradicate the disease, Pakistan remains one of the two countries, along with Afghanistan, where polio is still endemic.
Polio is a highly infectious virus that primarily affects children under five years old, particularly those who are malnourished or have weak immunity due to being under-vaccinated. The virus can invade the nervous system, leading to paralysis or even death. While there is no cure for polio, vaccination remains the most effective prevention method.
In Islamabad, the 17th case of 2024 involved a child from Union Council Rural 4 who was paralyzed by type 1 wild poliovirus (WPV1). Environmental samples from Islamabad and the nearby Rawalpindi district have tested positive for WPV1 since June, highlighting the ongoing risk to children’s health.
Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq, expressed concern over the case, emphasizing that polio is preventable with vaccination. She announced that starting September 9, a new polio campaign will begin, aiming to vaccinate over 33 million children under five across 115 districts. Farooq stressed the importance of vaccination, urging parents to ensure their children receive the polio drops and stay up to date with routine immunizations.
Muhammad Anwarul Haq, Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, outlined that the upcoming campaign will focus on areas with detected virus activity and high transmission risk. He called on parents to cooperate with vaccination teams, emphasizing that missed opportunities can jeopardize children’s health.
So far this year, polio cases have been reported in Balochistan (12 cases), Sindh (3 cases), and Punjab (1 case).
