On January 14, 2025, Pakistan confirmed a new case of polio in Jacobabad, Sindh, bringing the total number of cases for 2024 to 71, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This case, involving a male child, was identified as the 71st wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) infection of the year. The childβs symptoms began on December 27, 2024. Jacobabad now has five polio cases reported in 2024.
Polio remains endemic in only two countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan, with children under five most affected by the disease, which can lead to permanent paralysis. Despite efforts to eradicate the virus globally, challenges like security concerns, vaccine hesitancy, and misinformation continue to hinder progress.
In total, 27 cases were reported from Balochistan, 21 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 21 from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad in 2024. A nationwide vaccination campaign is scheduled for February 3-9, 2025, and the government urges parents to ensure that all children under five receive the polio vaccine to prevent further cases.
Polio is a debilitating disease with no cure, and vaccination is the most effective way to protect children. The Pakistan Polio Programme conducts extensive vaccination drives, reaching children directly in their homes, while the Expanded Program on Immunisation offers free vaccines against 12 childhood diseases at health centers. A recent sub-national campaign successfully vaccinated over 42 million children in December 2024.
