Islamabad: According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), two new polio cases have been reported in Pakistan within a single day.
Details reveal that the cases have emerged from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa districts of Bannu and Lakki Marwat. In Lakki Marwat, a 26-month-old girl from Sarai Naurang developed polio symptoms on April 22. Meanwhile, in Bannu, a 40-month-old boy from Union Council (UC) Sain Tangi showed symptoms of the virus on May 1.
Sources indicate that no comprehensive polio campaign has been conducted in UC Sain Tangi since October 2023. Additionally, many parents in the area refuse to vaccinate their children, creating serious obstacles for polio teams trying to reach them.
Similarly, the situation in UC Bakhmal Ahmadzai, Lakki Marwat, is alarming, where hundreds of children remain unvaccinated. A shortage of female polio workers and widespread parental refusal to vaccinate are further hampering efforts to eradicate the virus.
It is worth noting that the total number of polio cases reported in the country this year has now reached 10.
