Maps
Magazine

HEALTH

Pakistan Fights Resurgence of Wild Polio with Mass Vaccination Campaigns
Polio remains a challenge in Pakistan, with 68 cases of wild poliovirus detected this year. Over 42 million children have been vaccinated so far, but continued efforts are needed to protect our future.
ND
by News Desk
2024-12-30
Pakistan Fights Resurgence of Wild Polio with Mass Vaccination Campaigns

Pakistan remains one of the last two countries where polio is still endemic, with wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) threatening children under five. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) confirmed the country’s 68th WPV1 case of 2024 on Monday, detected in Dera Ismail Khan.

Environmental samples collected from 26 districts already affected by WPV1 show continued circulation of the virus, posing a significant challenge for eradication efforts. Of the reported cases this year, 27 are from Balochistan, 20 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 19 from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.

Polio, a debilitating disease with no cure, can only be prevented through vaccination. The Pakistan Polio Programme, in collaboration with the Expanded Programme on Immunization, has been conducting mass vaccination campaigns, targeting children under five to build immunity.

From December 16 to 22, over 42 million children were vaccinated during a sub-national campaign covering Punjab, Sindh, KP, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad. The second phase of the campaign began today in Balochistan, focusing on 36 districts, according to Balochistan Emergency Operations Centre Coordinator Inamul Haq.

Despite these efforts, challenges such as security threats, vaccine hesitancy, and misinformation hinder progress. It is vital for parents to vaccinate their children and ensure they complete their routine immunization schedules to protect against polio and other childhood diseases.

Global health organizations and the Pakistan government are committed to eradicating polio, but community support remains critical to achieving this goal.
Tagged:

PolioVaccination

EndPolio

PakistanHealth
Share News: