The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health, Islamabad has confirmed two cases of wild poliovirus type-1 (WPV1) in Sindh. The cases involve a girl from Sanghar district and a boy from Mirpurkhas district, according to the lab.
Sindh province may soon report more polio cases, with over 160 environmental samples testing positive for the poliovirus. This development comes after the confirmation of 12 polio cases in 2024, highlighting the need for sustained surveillance and vaccination efforts.
Officials, who requested anonymity, noted that the positive environmental samples indicate the ongoing circulation of the poliovirus in the community, putting vulnerable children at serious risk.
According to data from the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, 39 polio cases have been reported nationwide in 2024. Balochistan is the hardest-hit province, with 20 case, while Sindh has reported 12 cases. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has confirmed five cases, and Islamabad and Punjab have each seen one case. These figures reflect the persistent challenge of polio eradication, as Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries with active transmission.
In an interview with The Rise News, Irshad Ali Sodhar, Provincial Coordinator at the Emergency Operation Center Sindh, explained, “We have conducted nine vaccination campaigns in Sindh this year, including a special fractional inactivated poliovirus (f-IPV) campaign in August. This initiative aims to boost immunity in high-risk union councils of Karachi, alongside the oral polio vaccine (OPV) that we are already administering.”
Sodhar added that vaccine refusals are not a major issue in Sindh. “When necessary, we work with local leaders, influencers, and relevant authorities to address concerns,” he said. “Our strategy is multi-layered, with a focus on vaccinating every child under five. We partner with government agencies, schools, communities, and media outlets.”
Emphasizing the urgency, Sodhar said, “We are working tirelessly to understand why Pakistan remains vulnerable to police. We are exploring every option to improve the situation and are hopeful that we will soon see negative environmental samples and an end to virus transmission. The health of our children is our top priority.”
The National Institute of Health (NIH) shared polio statistics with the National Assembly on September 5. The NIH reported that 45 polio case have been documented in Pakistan over the past four years. In 2021, only one case was recorded, but the number rose to 20 in 2022. Eight cases were reported in 2023, followed by 16 cases so far in 2024, according to the Ministry of Health.
In terms of funding, it was indicated that the National Polio Eradication Program received an allocation of $180 million in 2022, which subsequently rose to $187 million in 2023. For the ongoing year, 2024, the program is set to receive $80 million.
Additional Report by The Rise News
