Two more polio cases surface in  Balochistan increasing tally  of cases to 26 during 2024

Independent Report

QUETTA: Two more polio cases of poliovirus have been surfaced in Balochistan increasing the tally of cases of crippling disease to 26 during the current year 2024.

According to the National Institute of Health, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication confirmed detection of three new cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in the country including two from Balochistan bringing the total number of polio cases in the country to 55 in 2024.

The Laboratory identified the cases in Zhob and DI Khan, where female children were affected, and in Jaffarabad district, where a male child contracted the virus.

It may be mentioned here that this is third case of polio reported from Zhob this year and second case of the year surfaced in Jaffarabad.

This marks a significant resurgence of WPV1 in the country and that in Balochistan. Out of total 55 reported cases, 26 are from Balochistan, 14 from KP, 13 from Sindh and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.

Earlier, six cases have been reported from Killa Abdullah in Balochistan while three cases reported from Quetta with two each from Chaman, Zhob, Killa Saifullah and Pishin.

Similarly, one each case of polio has been reported from Dera Bugti, Chaghai, Jhal Magsi, Kharan, Noshki and Loralai.

Meanwhile, according to the sources of Health department, Balochistan, an anti-polio campaign is being planned for the province from next month.