The number of poliovirus cases in Pakistan has risen to 26 this year, following the confirmation of two new cases in Karachi and Sujawal, Sindh, on Tuesday.
The latest reports indicate one case in Karachi’s East district and another in Sujawal, contributing to a nationwide total that includes 15 cases from Balochistan, seven from Sindh, two from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab and the federal capital, Islamabad.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, emphasized the importance of widespread vaccination, stating, “No child anywhere is safe until all children in Pakistan are repeatedly vaccinated for polio, building a wall of protection so the virus cannot break through.”
The Pakistan polio programme is actively working on a strategic roadmap aimed at controlling the virus’s spread and interrupting transmission by mid-2025.
In a related health development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the successful elimination of trachoma, an infectious eye disease that can lead to irreversible blindness. This milestone makes Pakistan the 19th country worldwide to eradicate this disease, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Despite these advancements, Pakistan, along with neighboring Afghanistan, remains one of the last polio-endemic countries globally. The nation has experienced a resurgence of polio cases since late 2018, underscoring the vulnerability of previous health gains.
