- विज्ञापन -
Pakistan: Pakistan have witnessed a new case of polio in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region on Wednesday, increased the total number of cases to 69, according to a statement from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on Wednesday.
This marks a significant concern as Pakistan remains one of the last two countries in the world, alongside Afghanistan, where the polio virus continues to be endemic.
Polio primarily affects children under the age of five and can lead to permanent paralysis in some cases.
NIH statement confirmed that the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication had identified the 69th wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) case of 2024. The latest case was detected on January 7 in Tank, making it the fifth case in the district for the year.
The 69 reported cases of the disease this year are spread across several regions of Pakistan, with the highest numbers in Balochistan (27 cases), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (21), and Sindh (19). A single case was also reported each from Punjab and Islamabad.
Polio remains a grave health challenge for Pakistan, despite global efforts to eradicate it. The persistence of the disease can be attributed to several obstacles, including security concerns in some areas, vaccine hesitancy, and the spread of misinformation that has hindered vaccination campaigns. These factors have delayed significant progress in eliminating polio from the country.
Polio is a debilitating and potentially fatal disease with no cure. Health experts emphasize the critical need for multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine to ensure immunity against the virus, particularly for children under five. Completing the full vaccination schedule is essential for preventing further outbreaks.
