The National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) sounded the alarm on Thursday, confirming Pakistan’s 18th polio case of the year from Quetta.
This case marks the second polio infection reported in Quetta and the 13th in Balochistan this year, making it the province with the highest number of cases.
A two-year-old boy in the provincial capital has been paralyzed by wild poliovirus type 1.
Officials from the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) in Islamabad confirmed the case and underscored the ongoing challenges faced by the national immunization drive.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication, expressed concern about the increasing number of polio cases. She noted that disruptions in the anti-poliovirus campaign in some Balochistan neighborhoods had contributed to the virus’s spread.
Farooq emphasized the need for intensified efforts to halt the virus’s spread, stressing the importance of administering multiple doses of the polio vaccine to every child.
She urged parents to ensure their children, up to five years old, are vaccinated.
Environmental samples have revealed the presence of poliovirus in 66 districts across Pakistan, highlighting the ongoing threat of the virus even in areas without reported clinical cases.
The resurgence of polio in Balochistan and other regions is a significant setback for the country’s eradication efforts. Officials are working to strengthen vaccination campaigns and increase public awareness about immunization.
Health officials remain focused on reaching every child with the vital polio vaccine to prevent further cases of paralysis and safeguard future generations.
