ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The number of polio cases in Pakistan this year has risen to 67 after two new infections were reported on Thursday, health officials said.
According to local media, the new cases were detected in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh. One case was reported in the Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing the province’s total to 19 for the year, while the other was recorded in Kashmore district, Sindh, which also now has 19 cases.
Balochistan has reported the highest number of polio cases in 2024, with 27 infections, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh. Islamabad and Punjab have each recorded one case.
Pakistan and Afghanistan: Polio’s last strongholds
Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where polio remains endemic. Despite significant progress in eradicating the disease, the virus continues to pose a challenge in these regions.
Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Program describes polio as a “paralyzing and incurable disease,” emphasizing that completing routine vaccinations for all children under five years old is essential to providing “strong immunity against this devastating disease.”
To combat the spread of the virus, Pakistan has launched several vaccination drives, including a campaign that began last week with the goal of vaccinating approximately 44 million children nationwide.
Health officials remain hopeful that sustained efforts, combined with increased vaccination coverage, will bring the country closer to eliminating polio and safeguarding future generations.
