Pakistan faces rapid polio resurgence amid global revival

For over a year starting in 2021, Pakistan experienced its longest period without new polio infections, raising hopes of eradicating the disease. However, the situation has drastically changed, with a resurgence of polio cases reported across the country. Recently, health officials confirmed the first polio case in Islamabad in 16 years, indicating the virus's spread beyond its traditional areas. Environmental monitoring has also detected the virus in sewage samples from major cities like Peshawar and Karachi, highlighting the ongoing public health crisis. The resurgence has been particularly alarming in Balochistan, a province that has become a new epicenter for the virus, far from its previous strongholds in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province. This shift underscores the challenges posed by geographic and cultural factors that complicate vaccination efforts. Millions of people living in crowded and unsanitary conditions in urban slums are at heightened risk of infection. In response to this alarming trend, Pakistan has launched a nationwide vaccination campaign involving 286,000 health workers, aiming to immunize 30 million children under the age of five. This initiative is part of a broader, multi-billion dollar effort by the government to combat the virus's spread and protect vulnerable populations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed optimism about the campaign's potential to eradicate polio, emphasizing the importance of coordinated efforts to eliminate the disease from Pakistan. The government remains committed to ensuring that polio does not return, but the challenges ahead are significant as the country grapples with a renewed outbreak.