Another case of poliomyelitis (polio) has been reported in Balochistan, raising the number of cases in the first half of 2024 to six.
The Health Department of Balochistan announced the latest case of poliomyelitis in Qilla Abdullah, where a 24-month-old child was diagnosed with the disease. It is unclear whether the child was vaccinated against the viral disease.
Poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio, is a highly infectious viral disease primarily affecting young children. The virus spreads through the fecal-oral route, often due to poor sanitation and hygiene. Polio can cause permanent paralysis, and in severe cases, it can be fatal. The mortality rate for those who develop paralysis is 5-10% due to complications involving the respiratory muscles. There is no cure for polio; however, it can be prevented through vaccination.
This new case comes just three days after another case was reported in Qilla Abdullah. Of the six polio cases reported in Balochistan so far this year, three are from Qilla Abdullah, with the remaining cases from Quetta, Dera Bugti, and Chaman.
Pakistan remains one of the two countries where poliomyelitis (polio) is still classified as an endemic viral infection, the other being Afghanistan. Although global health organizations have observed a decline in the number of cases each year – from 147 in 2019 to 84 in 2020, and just 20 in 2022 – the disease continues to pose a significant threat to young children in the country.
One major reason polio persists as an endemic disease in Pakistan is the widespread negative perception of vaccination. Despite conducting, on paper, over 100 rounds of vaccination campaigns in the past decade, the country struggles to align these efforts with the actual number of infections. In 2014, Pakistan recorded the highest number of polio cases globally, despite millions of children reportedly being vaccinated.
Several factors contribute to the negative perception of vaccination in Pakistan, including a lack of education, misinformation campaigns, poor health infrastructure, and insufficient sanitation. Additionally, militant opposition to vaccine distribution has been a critical issue. This resistance stems partly from the 2011 CIA-operated fake hepatitis vaccination campaign in Abbottabad, aimed at gathering intelligence on Osama Bin Laden. The campaign’s exposure led to widespread distrust in vaccination programs.
Since 2012, over 70 polio workers have been killed across Pakistan by militants claiming that vaccination campaigns are a front for intelligence operations. In January 2016, a suicide bomber attacked a security vehicle near a polio center in Quetta, killing 15 and injuring 25. This militant opposition significantly hampers vaccination efforts, perpetuating polio as a severe threat to children in Pakistan.