Pakistan’s polio crisis deepens as the 33rd case is reported from Quetta

Pakistan has reported another polio case in 2024, bringing the total this year to 33, after a child from Quetta was diagnosed with the virus.

The affected child showed symptoms of polio on August 22. Quetta has seen three polio cases, with 37 sewage samples testing positive for the virus.

Moreover, Quetta block has recorded 11 polio cases and 65 positive sewage samples.

Balochistan remains the most affected province, with 17 cases reported. Sindh has recorded ten cases, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa four and one case from Islamabad and Punjab.

On September 5, the National Institute of Health (NIH) presented detailed statistics on polio cases in Pakistan before the National Assembly.

The NIH reported a total of 45 polio cases across Pakistan over the past four years. Only one case was reported in 2021, while the number rose to twenty in 2022.

Eight new cases were recorded in 2023, followed by 16 cases in 2024, as confirmed by the Ministry of Health.

In terms of funding, $180 million was allocated for the National Polio Eradication Program in 2022, which increased to $187 million in 2023. For the current year, 2024, the program has been allocated $80 million.

The Ministry of Health further highlighted that a total of US$447 million has been spent on polio eradication efforts since January 2022, highlighting the government’s commitment to eliminating the disease from the country.