Pakistan’s polio tally rises to 46

Despite intensified government efforts and widespread vaccination campaigns, Pakistan is struggling to combat its ongoing polio crisis.

As of 2024, Pakistan has recorded 46 cases of polio, with the majority of infections concentrated in the provinces of Balochistan and Sindh.

Balochistan has been the hardest hit, with 23 cases reported, followed by Sindh with 12, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with nine, and isolated cases in Punjab and Islamabad.

The latest case, reported from the Qila Saifullah district in Balochistan, adds to other recent outbreaks in areas such as Chaman, Pishin, and Quetta.

A report by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlighted challenges in the country’s vaccination efforts.

During the June 2024 subnational immunization days (SNIDs), the campaign faced 51,199 refusals, leading to 599,105 children—about 3.3% of the target population—missing their polio vaccinations.

Parental Refusals and Social Barriers

Polio eradication workers continue to face significant opposition in various regions, with many parents refusing to allow vaccination teams to administer polio drops.

Activists reported that in certain areas, parents actively hide their children from vaccination teams, while others falsely mark their children as vaccinated without actually administering the vaccine.

Authorities in Balochistan revealed that over 500 cases were documented in which parents asked polio workers to mark children’s hands as vaccinated, even though the drops were not given.

The ongoing polio crisis is exacerbated by environmental conditions in Pakistan, where inadequate sewage systems contribute to the spread of the virus.

In areas where waste flows freely into streets where children play, the risk of infection remains high.

Environmental samples from various regions, including Sindh (especially Karachi), Balochistan, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab, have tested positive for the wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), further confirming the virus’s widespread presence.