Islamabad, Dec 3 (EFE).- The authorities of Pakistan reported on Tuesday three new cases of poliovirus, bringing the national total of infections in 2024 to 59, marking one of his worst years in the fight against the disease.
The three recent cases were detected in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Sindh province, health officials told local broadcaster Geo News.
Pakistan is thus going through one of its worst years in the fight against polio, which ed its largest outbreak in 2019, with 147 infections, and in 2020, with 84 cases.
The numbers dropped significantly over the last three years with a cumulative total of 27 cases – one in 2021, 20 in 2022, and 6 in 2023.
The recent increase in cases is attributed to several factors, including safety concerns, misinformation, and vaccine reluctance.
These factors have hindered vaccination efforts and allowed the spread of poliovirus.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified Pakistan as one of the few countries where polio remains endemic.
The disease, caused by poliovirus, attacks the nervous system and can lead to paralysis or even death.
To combat the spread of polio, Pakistan’s health authorities are stepping up vaccination campaigns.
However, challenges such as access to remote areas and security concerns continue to hinder efforts.
Armed groups, especially the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, have repeatedly attacked these teams, claiming that vaccination campaigns were a façade for spying or a part of a Western conspiracy to sterilize children. EFE
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