Pakistan’s battle against polio: Infant dies in Balochistan, total cases increase to 14 in 2024

Pakistan continues to fight against polio along with the neighbouring country Afghanistan, the only two countries where the Polio Virus is still endemic. On 10 August 2024, the 14th polio case was reported from the Qilla Saifullah district of Balochistan, increasing the number of poliovirus cases in the country. Three more cases from the country have been reported, two in Balochistan and one in Punjab province,

As per a report in Al Jazeera, Pakistan has reported a total of 365 polio cases since 2015. According to a Qatar-based publication, despite administering 300 million doses of oral vaccine every year, with the support of 350,000 vaccinators, and with an expenditure of USD 9.3 billion from 2013 to 2023, the country has failed in eradicating the disease.

Polio is a highly infectious disease that can cause paralysis of the limbs. It can be transmitted through various factors like contaminated food or water and contact with the infected person. There are various treatments like bed rest, pain relievers, portable ventilators, and rehabilitation.

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AL Jazeera cited Dr Hamid Jafari, World Health Organisation’s regional director of polio eradication, as saying, “This is where there’s a lot of militancy, insecurity, community hostility and frustration towards the government because of conflict and a lack of services.” The major challenge against polio exists in the southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. He further added that over 50 districts across Pakistan are detecting the virus.

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WHO officials said that not only the polio programme is getting targeted, but also the security personnel guarding the teams are also being the soft target. The Al Jazeera report cited that at least 102 field workers, security personnel, and officials have been killed, including at least 6 in the polio eradication campaigns carried out this year in Pakistan.

The latest victim of the polio virus in the country is an eleven-month-old infant from Qilawho died after paralysis caused by the highly infectious poliovirus. The child showed symptoms of poliovirus on 17 July and is among the five cases detected in the district.

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As per the report in Balochistan Post, other cases have been reported in Quetta, Chaman, Jhal Magsi, and Dera Bugti. The publication further stated that in Balochistan, the situation is compounded due to inadequate vaccination coverage and continuous false claims about the vaccine. Even after several vaccination campaigns, it was difficult to keep pace with the actual number of infections in the country.

(With inputs from agencies)