Sun Nov 03 05:59:50 UTC 2024: ## Pakistan’s Polio Fight Faces Setback as Two New Cases Emerge
**Islamabad, November 3, 2024:** The number of polio cases in Pakistan has surged to 45 after two fresh cases were detected in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, marking a concerning setback in the country’s ongoing eradication efforts.
The latest cases, confirmed as Wild Poliovirus Type 1 (WPV1) by the National Institute of Health, were discovered in the Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan districts. This marks the second instance of polio cases in both districts this year, raising alarm bells about the continued spread of the virus in the region.
The detection of WPV1 in 76 districts across all four provinces highlights the widespread circulation of the virus throughout Pakistan. This alarming trend has prompted renewed efforts to contain the crippling disease.
A week-long nationwide vaccination campaign, targeting over 45 million children under five years old, commenced on Monday in an attempt to stem the spread of polio. The campaign aims to immunize children against the virus.
Of the 45 cases reported in Pakistan this year, Balochistan has registered the highest number with 22 cases, followed by Sindh with 12, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 9, and Punjab and Islamabad each reporting one case.
Pakistan, along with Afghanistan, remains one of only two countries in the world where polio is still endemic, according to the World Health Organisation. The ongoing battle to eradicate polio in these countries continues to pose a significant challenge.
First Piper 