Latest news with #PolioEradication
Arab News
21-05-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Pakistan reports two new polio cases, bringing 2025 tally to 10
KARACHI: Pakistan's polio eradication program said on Wednesday two new cases of the wild poliovirus had been detected in the country's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bringing the tall of 2025 cases to 10. The new cases have emerged ahead of the government launching a third nationwide campaign to vaccinate children under the age of five, scheduled from May. 26 to June 1. The campaign will target over 45.4 million children across 159 districts, including high-risk areas of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the new cases have been detected. Polio is a paralyzing disease that has no cure. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of 5 is essential to provide children high immunity against the disease. 'The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed two new cases of wild poliovirus in District Lakki Marwat and District Bannu, South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,' the body said in a statement. 'With these latest detections, the total number of confirmed polio cases in Pakistan in 2025 has risen to 10, five from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four from Sindh, and one from Punjab.' The statement said while polio vaccination campaigns continued nationwide, with two already held in 2025, certain areas, particularly in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, faced challenges such as restricted access and difficulties in conducting house-to-house vaccination drives. 'These access and operational hurdles leave thousands of children particularly in South KP at risk of exposure to poliovirus as a result of missed opportunities for vaccination,' the statement said. Due to ongoing access constraints and community concerns, children in UC Bakhmal Ahmad Zai (Lakki Marwat) missed out on vaccination opportunities during the February and April 2025 immunization campaigns, resulting in immunity gaps. In UC Saintanga, Tehsil Wazir (Bannu), no comprehensive campaign had been implemented since October 2023. Limited access, shortage of female vaccinators, and gaps in monitoring had contributed to immunity gaps, leaving children at continued risk of poliovirus transmission. 'The Pakistan Polio Eradication Program is actively engaging with all stakeholders to address operational and access challenges and to enhance the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns in these high-risk areas. An intensified vaccination schedule is being implemented to interrupt virus transmission and protect children from lifelong paralysis,' the polio program added. In the early 1990s, Pakistan reported around 20,000 polio cases annually but in 2018 the number dropped to eight cases. Six cases were reported in 2023 and only one in 2021. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the last two countries in the world where polio remains endemic. Pakistan's polio program began in 1994 but efforts to eradicate the virus have since been undermined by vaccine misinformation and opposition from some religious hard-liners who say immunization is a foreign ploy to sterilize Muslim children or a cover for Western spies. Militant groups also frequently attack and kill members of polio vaccine teams and security guards protecting them.
Express Tribune
26-03-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
PM's aide alarmed over rising polio cases
Prime Minister's Focal Person on Polio Eradication, Ms Ayesha Raza Farooq on Wednesday called for strengthening the polio programme and making more efforts aimed at disease eradication due to rising cases in the country. "The ongoing outbreak is alarming, with six children already paralyzed in 2025," she said while chairing a meeting of the National Polio Management Team (NPMT) to assess progress, address emerging challenges, and refine strategies for the upcoming nationwide immunisation campaigns scheduled to take place in April and May. "We must remain vigilant, proactive, and committed to refining our approaches to stay ahead of the virus," she added while emphasizing the urgency of the moment. The meeting brought together national and provincial coordinators, core group members, and key stakeholders. The meeting reinforced the importance of gender-inclusive workforce participation, the synergy between Essential Immunization and Polio Eradication efforts, and adherence to the latest Technical Advisory Group (TAG) recommendations.
Express Tribune
30-01-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Pakistan achieves 99% reduction in polio cases
Listen to article The World Health Organization (WHO) praised Pakistan on Thursday for reducing polio cases by over 99% since 1994, reaffirming its commitment to assist the country in completing the final phase of eradication. Despite significant progress, the disease has seen a resurgence in some of Pakistan's most volatile regions, and challenges remain in the fight against polio. The WHO, acknowledging Pakistan's efforts, emphasized that it would continue to support the country in 'running the last mile' to end the crippling disease. This message was delivered during Islamabad's hosting of the Technical Advisory Group for Polio Eradication, a key forum bringing together global experts to strategize on eliminating the global polio threat. Since the 1990s, when Pakistan reported around 20,000 cases annually, the country has made remarkable strides in polio eradication. By 2018, the number of cases had dropped to just eight, and only six cases were recorded in 2023. The WHO commended this progress, noting that Pakistan has reduced polio cases by more than 99% since 1994. However, recent setbacks have occurred, with 73 reported cases in 2022, a sharp rise from just one case in 2021. The most recent case was reported last Wednesday from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, a province in northwestern Pakistan. Pakistan, along with neighboring Afghanistan, remains one of the last two polio-endemic countries globally. The resurgence of polio in certain regions, particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, is exacerbated by challenges including militant attacks on health workers and misinformation spread by religious hard-liners. WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Hanan Balkhy, warned that the eradication efforts in both Afghanistan and Pakistan faced serious threats, particularly due to the suspension of foreign aid by the US under former President Donald Trump. On Tuesday, WHO's Deputy Director Dr. Mike Ryan also raised concerns about a funding gap of $68 million for polio eradication work in Pakistan, which could jeopardize the progress made so far. 'Urgent funding is required to ensure that hard-fought gains are not lost,' Dr. Ryan said in a video posted on X. Despite these challenges, Pakistan's commitment to polio eradication remains steadfast. The Pakistan Polio Eradication Program is set to launch its first nationwide vaccination drive of 2025 from February 3 to 9, aiming to immunize millions of children and bring the country closer to achieving a polio-free future.
