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Second Polio Case Reported in Tank District, KP, Bringing 2024 Tally to 50
Pakistan’s fight against polio faces another setback as the second case in Tank, KP, raises the year’s total to 50. Challenges like vaccine hesitancy and misinformation remain critical barriers.
ND
by News Desk
2024-11-19
Second Polio Case Reported in Tank District, KP, Bringing 2024 Tally to 50

The National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) reported a second polio case from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district on Tuesday, increasing Pakistan’s 2024 polio count to 50. The infected child is a girl whose case was confirmed through genetic sequencing, linking the virus to an earlier case in the district reported in July.

"Tank remains a polio-endemic district, with multiple positive environmental samples and two cases this year, signaling ongoing virus circulation," the NEOC stated.

Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where polio is still endemic, despite international eradication efforts. Key challenges include security concerns, vaccine hesitancy, and misinformation, which continue to impede progress.

National Statistics:

  • Balochistan: 24 cases
  • Sindh: 13 cases
  • Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 11 cases
  • Punjab: 1 case
  • Islamabad: 1 case

The most recent case before this was reported in Jaffarabad, Balochistan, involving a 15-month-old boy.

Vaccination Challenges:

Health officials emphasize that unvaccinated children pose significant risks to the eradication campaign. During the October 28 to November 3 door-to-door vaccination drive in KP:

  • 78,355 children missed vaccination due to their absence from home.
  • 17,479 children were unvaccinated due to parental refusal or hesitation.

Officials underscore the need to address vaccine hesitancy and misinformation to inoculate every child against this preventable disease.

As Pakistan inches closer to eradication, sustained efforts, community engagement, and international support remain crucial.

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PolioEradication

EndPolio

HealthForAll

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