Last updated on August 29th, 2024 at 10:15 pm
Islamabad: Pakistan has reported one more polio case, taking the country’s overall tally to 16 for the year 2024. The latest case was of a 29-month-old girl hailing from Hyderabad district in Sindh, the National Institute of Health said, who became paralyzed due to WPV1.
New Sindh Polio Case and its Regional Impact
The NIH confirmed the detection of WPV1 in the child, which has become the first polio case to have been detected in Hyderabad, and the third reported in Sindh this year. Historically, as many as 62 districts across the country have been tracked to have the virus this year, compared to 28 districts last year. This sudden spurt shows how urgently eradication of polio is seriously needed.
Govt Response and Upcoming Vaccination Drive
Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq cited the virus that keeps persistently showing up. “This new polio case is a grim reminder of our fight against polio. We need to ramp up efforts to get rid of WPV1 from Pakistan,” she said. The government will carry out a big vaccination campaign from September 9 onwards in an attempt to contain the outbreak and prevent further infection.
Overcoming the Challenges of Eradication of Polio
Polio has been eradicated from most countries, but its eradication remains an uphill task in parts of Pakistan, India, Nigeria, and Afghanistan. In Pakistan, specifically the ultra-conservative tribal areas, there are a number of people who have been avoiding vaccination due to misconceptions about the vaccine. The resistance to vaccination has gone all the way to even targeted attacks on vaccination teams, where many policemen lost their lives in the line of duty.
Continuing Efforts and Future Outlook
The commitment of the Government of Pakistan to eradicating polio through wide-ranging vaccination campaigns and public health continues unabated. This coming campaign is crucial for accrual of immunity among populations and averting further cases in the affected districts.