The National Institute of Health’s regional reference laboratory confirmed on Thursday the first polio case of 2024 in Pakistan, originating from Dera Bugti district of Balochistan. A 30-month-old boy has been affected by wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), as revealed by his stool samples.
The child displayed paralysis in both lower limbs, with the isolated virus identified as part of the imported YB3A cluster. Expressing concern, Federal Health Secretary Iftikhar Ali Shallwani remarked, “This virus has paralysed another Pakistani, reminding us once again that until we eradicate this virus, our children and children across the world will remain at persistent risk from poliomyelitis.”
Shallwani emphasized the importance of vaccination, stating, “Poliovirus attacks children whose immunity is not sufficient enough to fight off polio infection, and therefore, it is crucial for parents to understand this fact and ensure that all their children are vaccinated at every opportunity.”
Dr. Shahzad Baig, Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, announced immediate plans for a detailed case investigation to identify the virus’s origin. He noted that two positive environmental samples have already been reported from Dera Bugti.
“We have already conducted two nationwide polio vaccination campaigns in 2024, vaccinating more than 45.4 million children under five. Following this detection, the Programme has planned a case response starting from March 26 in affected districts to prevent the virus from harming more children,” Dr. Baig stated.
This marks the first polio case in Pakistan for 2024 and the first in Dera Bugti district in nearly 13 years. Last year, the country reported six polio cases, highlighting the ongoing challenge in eradicating this disease.
