Pakistan reports 3 new polio cases as tally rises to 21 this year

ISLAMABAD

Pakistan has confirmed three new poliovirus cases across the country, bringing the total number of cases reported this year to 21, according to local media on Saturday.

The new cases were confirmed in southern Sindh, southwestern Balochistan and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, local broadcaster Samaa TV reported.

In a statement, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said the province reported its first polio case of the year and that the virus paralyzed a nine-month-old girl from Mohmand district.

He also ordered the suspension of a local district health officer and polio eradication program coordinator of the province after the detection of the polio case.

In 2023, the South Asian country reported six cases and four of them were confirmed in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

So far this year, Balochistan reported 14 cases, Sindh four, Punjab one, KP one and Islamabad also reported one case earlier this month.

Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by poliovirus mainly affecting children under five. It invades the nervous system and can cause paralysis or even death.

Anti-polio campaigns in Pakistan are also marred by violence. Militants often target polio teams and police assigned to protect them.