Pakistan has reported another polio case in its southwestern region near Afghanistan, bringing the total number of cases in the country for 2024 to nine.
The latest case involves an 18-month-old boy from the Zhob district in Balochistan, who has been diagnosed with polio. This area, known for its proximity to Afghanistan, has seen a significant number of polio cases this year.
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The child lives in the Hassan Zai Urban area and had been showing symptoms of the virus in recent weeks. Dr. Malik Mukhtar Ahmed, the Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Health, revealed that genetic testing of the virus is underway.
He noted that seven of the nine reported polio cases in Pakistan this year have been from Balochistan, raising alarms about the resurgence of the virus in this region.
Dr. Ahmed highlighted that polio is present in over 50 districts, which poses a considerable risk to children. Last month, Pakistan reported two additional polio cases from Sindh and Balochistan, increasing the total for 2024 to eight.
The cases involved a two-year-old from Qila Abdullah in Balochistan and a three-year-old girl from Karachi Kemari, with symptoms appearing in late May and early June, respectively.
