Pakistan’s Polio Challenge: 41 Cases in 2024, New Campaign Launched
In Islamabad, Pakistan, the number of polio cases has risen to 41 this year. A 42-month-old girl from Loralai District in Balochistan was recently diagnosed with wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1). The Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) confirmed her condition after she experienced paralysis on October 8. In response, the Pakistani government will launch a nationwide anti-polio vaccine campaign on October 28.
This case is the first confirmed in Loralai and highlights Balochistan as a significant area for polio transmission, with 21 cases reported. Other cases are spread across Sindh (12), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (6), and one each in Punjab and Islamabad. A senior PEI official expressed concern over the widespread transmission of WPV1, noting 204 positive environmental samples from 71 districts.
Earlier, Pakistan reported its 40th polio case of 2024 from Kohat district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The situation underscores the urgency of the upcoming vaccination campaign.
Doubts Revealed
Polio -: Polio is a disease caused by a virus that can make people very sick, sometimes causing paralysis, which means they can’t move parts of their body. It mostly affects children.
Balochistan -: Balochistan is one of the four provinces of Pakistan. It is located in the southwestern region of the country and is known for its mountainous terrain.
Wild poliovirus type 1 -: Wild poliovirus type 1 is a type of virus that causes polio. It is one of the three types of wild poliovirus, and it is the most common type that still causes outbreaks.
Vaccination campaign -: A vaccination campaign is an organized effort to give vaccines to many people to protect them from diseases. In this case, it is to protect people from polio.
Loralai District -: Loralai District is an area in Balochistan, Pakistan. It is one of the places where polio cases have been found.
Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Islamabad -: These are different regions in Pakistan. Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab are provinces, while Islamabad is the capital city of Pakistan.
Positive samples -: Positive samples mean that when they tested for the poliovirus in different places, they found the virus in 204 samples from 71 districts. This shows that the virus is spreading.
