Pakistan Reports New Polio Case in KP, Total Rises to 68 in 2024
Pakistan has recorded a fresh case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan district, raising the nationwide total to 68 cases this year, according to health authorities. This marks the 10th case reported in KP, with the National Institute of Health in Islamabad confirming the diagnosis.
A statement from Pakistan’s polio eradication programme emphasized the urgency of vaccinations: “It is crucial for parents to ensure vaccination for all children under five to protect them from this paralyzing disease.”
Polio, a disease with no cure, requires consistent vaccination efforts to ensure immunity. Health officials highlight the importance of multiple oral polio vaccine doses and completing routine immunizations to safeguard children.
This year’s polio cases include 27 from Balochistan, 20 from KP, 19 from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad. A recent vaccination campaign, held from December 16–22, successfully immunized over 42 million children across the country, covering Punjab, Sindh, KP, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad.
In Balochistan, the drive faced delays due to security threats and a boycott by provincial health staff but resumed on Monday in its second phase.
Pakistan, alongside Afghanistan, remains one of the last polio-endemic nations, underscoring the persistent challenges in eradicating the disease.
