Polio cripples child in Tank, tally reaches 69

ISLAMABAD: Polio has crippled another child in Pakistan, this time again in the Tank district of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), officials said on Wednesday.

As the 13-month-old child had the onset of paralysis due to Wild Poliovirus 1 (WPV1) in November last year, it would be considered the 69th polio case of 2024.

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health confirmed the case on Wednesday, (January 8) making it the fifth case from Tank in 2024. The total number of polio cases in Pakistan last year stands at 69, with 27 reported from Balochistan, 21 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 19 from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.

“This is another reminder of the urgency to vaccinate every child under five to prevent this crippling disease,” Anwar-ul-Haq, National Coordinator for Emergency Operation Center (EOC) for Polio said, urging parents to cooperate with vaccination teams during upcoming immunization drives.

Polio remains a significant public health challenge in Pakistan, which, alongside Afghanistan, is one of the only two countries in the world where the disease is still endemic. The virus is highly contagious, spreading primarily through contaminated water and food, and can lead to permanent paralysis or even death in severe cases. The year’s first nationwide polio vaccination campaign is scheduled from February 3 to 9, 2025. Health officials stressed the importance of vaccinating all children under the age of five, as repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine are critical to building immunity. “The Pakistan Polio Program conducts multiple vaccination campaigns annually to reach children even in the most remote areas, while the Expanded Programme on Immunization provides routine immunizations free of charge at health facilities,” an official explained.

Experts highlighted the importance of community support in eradicating polio, saying that ensuring children receive the polio vaccine is the only way to protect them from this preventable disease. “It is crucial for parents to welcome vaccinators and ensure their children are immunized,” a health ministry representative said.

As efforts to eliminate polio continue, authorities are working to address challenges such as vaccine refusal, misinformation, and access issues in certain areas. Despite these hurdles, officials remain optimistic that sustained vaccination efforts can eventually lead to a polio-free Pakistan.