Pakistan has reported its 65th polio case of 2024, according to ARY News. The latest case involves a one-and-a-half-year-old child from Kila Abdullah in Balochistan’s Chaman district. This brings the total number of polio cases in Balochistan to 27, with seven reported in Kila Abdullah alone. The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) for Polio Eradication confirmed the case, following the 64th case earlier this year in Jacobabad, Sindh.
In a separate incident, six people were arrested in Karachi’s Korangi area on December 20 for allegedly attacking a polio vaccination team and their police escorts. The team was attempting to vaccinate children under five as part of a drive targeting 10.6 million children. The attack occurred when a tribal family threw stones at the team and their security personnel. Authorities intervened, and the individuals responsible were arrested and charged.
Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where polio is still endemic. Despite extensive vaccination efforts, the disease continues to affect children, often leading to permanent paralysis.
