Pakistan reports 65th polio case, latest in Balochistan

Quetta: Pakistan confirmed another polio case on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases reported in 2024 to 65, according to ARY News.

The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) for Polio Eradication identified the latest case as a one-and-a-half-year-old child from Kila Abdullah, Chaman district, Balochistan.

This marks the seventh case from Kila Abdullah and brings the total number of cases in Balochistan to 27 this year. Earlier, the 64th case was reported in Jacobabad, Sindh.

Efforts to combat the disease continue to face resistance. On December 20, an alleged attack on a polio vaccination team in Karachi's Korangi area resulted in the arrest of six individuals.

The incident occurred during a vaccination drive targeting 10.6 million children under the age of five across Sindh, which has reported 18 cases so far this year.

According to a statement from the Korangi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), a tribal family in the informal settlement of Korangi-2, Sector-20, reacted aggressively as polio workers, accompanied by police officers, arrived at their home. The situation escalated, leading to stone-throwing by the family.

Authorities, including the Korangi Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), female officers, and Rangers, intervened to control the situation. Four women and two men were arrested, and a case was registered against them following government instructions.

Ongoing challenges

Pakistan remains one of the last two countries, alongside Afghanistan, where polio remains endemic. Despite extensive global vaccination campaigns, the disease continues to affect children under five, often causing lifelong paralysis.

The attack highlights the difficulties faced by vaccination teams, especially in informal settlements, as the Sindh government continues its week-long immunization campaign.