Health authorities have confirmed another case of polio, raising the total number of infections in Balochistan to 14 this year.
A 15-month-old child in Qila Abdullah has tested positive for the virus, officials said on Friday, bringing the overall number of polio cases in Pakistan to 21 in 2024.
Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects children under the age of five. 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.
Pakistan remains one of only two countries in the world, alongside Afghanistan, where polio is still endemic. 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 Pakistan.
Experts point to vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure as significant obstacles to eradicating the virus. Despite numerous vaccination drives, large parts of the population remain unvaccinated, particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare services is limited.