Pakistan polio cases have climbed to 21 this year after health authorities confirmed two fresh infections. The new cases were detected in Lower Kohistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Badin (Sindh), prompting authorities to tighten vaccination efforts in the high-risk districts.
Details of New Cases
According to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), the latest victims include a six-year-old girl from Union Council Pattan in Lower Kohistan and a 21-month-old child from Union Council Matli-II in Badin. With these infections, the province-wise tally now stands at 13 cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and six in Sindh, while Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan have recorded one case each this year.
Polio Still a Serious Threat
Officials warned that polio remains a life-long, incurable disease, with vaccination being the only reliable safeguard. “Each unvaccinated child poses a danger to all children,” the NEOC emphasized in its advisory.
Nationwide Drive Starting September 1
To counter the spread, Pakistan will roll out a countrywide polio vaccination campaign from September 1. Millions of children under five are set to receive oral drops, with special focus on districts that recently reported new Pakistan polio cases.
Positive Trend in Environmental Samples
Meanwhile, the NEOC reported progress in environmental surveillance. Out of 127 sewage samples tested across 87 districts, only 42 carried the poliovirus, while 75 samples came back negative. Results for 10 more samples are awaited.
Breakdown by region showed encouraging progress:
- Balochistan: 22 out of 23 samples were negative.
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 24 negative, seven positive.
- Punjab: 15 virus-free, 12 positive.
- Sindh: 10 negative, 19 positive.
- Islamabad: All four samples virus-free.
- AJK & Gilgit-Baltistan: 100% negative.
Read More: Model, Photographer Booked for Filming at Wazir Khan Mosque
Surveillance and Testing
The testing was carried out at the National Institute of Health’s Polio Regional Laboratory in Islamabad, which monitors the presence of the virus nationwide. Officials highlighted that constant surveillance is critical for tracing Pakistan polio cases and eliminating the disease from the country.
