With the latest case confirmed in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.¹ This marks the 11th reported polio case from DI Khan, highlighting the ongoing challenges in combating the disease despite repeated mass vaccination efforts.
The national tally for wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in 2024 stands at 72, with Balochistan reporting the highest number at 27 cases, followed by 21 each from Sindh, 22 from KP, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
Health officials stress that polio remains a paralysing disease with no known cure, emphasizing the critical need for vaccination. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine immunization schedule for children under five are essential to building immunity against the virus.
To counter the resurgence, the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme will conduct a nationwide polio vaccination campaign from February 3 to February 9, 2025. Parents are urged to ensure that all children under five receive the vaccine during the campaign.
The Star