ISLAMABAD: A two-year-old boy from Quetta has been crippled by wild poliovirus type 1, marking the 18th confirmed case of polio in Pakistan this year. The boy, hailing from Union Council Qadriabad, Tehsil AC Saryab, Quetta District, is the latest victim of a disease that remains a scourge in the country despite extensive eradication efforts.
With this case, the total number of polio cases in Balochistan has risen to 13, the highest for any province in the country. Sindh has reported three cases, while Punjab and Islamabad have each confirmed one.
Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) officials in Islamabad confirmed the case and highlighted the ongoing challenges of the national immunization drive.
So far, environmental samples have detected the presence of poliovirus in 66 districts across Pakistan, underscoring the persistent threat of the virus even in areas where no clinical cases have been reported.
The resurgence of polio in Balochistan and other regions presents a significant setback for the country’s efforts to eradicate the disease, as officials work to bolster vaccination campaigns and raise public awareness about the importance of immunization.
Nevertheless, health officials continue to stress the importance of reaching every child with the life-saving polio vaccine to prevent the virus from further crippling children.
Polio, a preventable disease, continues to threaten children in vulnerable areas like Balochistan, causing paralysis until fully eradicated, prompting PEI officials to intensify vaccination efforts to curb the virus and safeguard future generations.