Karachi, Dec 3 (UNI) Pakistan has confirmed three new cases of the wild poliovirus, bringing the nationwide total of polio cases to 59 this year, according to the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).
The EOC issues updated nationwide tally of polio cases on Monday a week after a case was reported in Dera Ismail Khan's Drazanda tehsil where a 27-month-old child was diagnosed with poliovirus.
The newly reported cases were detected in Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Karachi's Keamari district, and Kashmore, according to the EOC.
With the latest case coming to the fore, Dera Ismail Khan has so far reported a total of eight polio cases this year, Geo news reported.
Balochistan leads with 26 cases in 2024, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 16, Sindh with 15, and one each in Punjab and Islamabad.
The highly contagious viral disease predominantly affects children under five, particularly those with weak immunity or inadequate vaccination, local media reported.
Pakistan continues it fight as the prevention from this crippling disease remains a challenge for the government, particularly in areas with security concerns and widespread vaccine hesitancy.
Authorities are working on a war footing to address these challenges and eradicate the virus.
The health department officials emphasised that many children remain vulnerable due to misinformation about vaccines.
UNI GNK