ISLAMABAD: The total number of polio cases this year has reached 37, after four more children have been diagnosed with poliovirus on Friday.
The Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) officials have revealed that the cases were reported in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
The latest victims include a 30-month-old girl from Lakki Marwat, an 18-month-old girl from Pishin, a 9-month-old boy from Chaman, and a 5-year-old boy from Noshki.
Despite global efforts to eradicate the disease, Pakistan, along with Afghanistan, remains one of the last countries where wild poliovirus continues to take its toll on kids living in mostly backward areas.
This persistence is largely due to widespread vaccine refusals fuelled by misinformation and conspiracy theories.
Confirming the four new cases, the officials expressed concern over the refusal of parents to vaccinate their children, driven by baseless propaganda.
They highlighted that rising vaccine hesitancy, particularly in regions like Balochistan and KP, was critically hampering eradication efforts.
“Parents are denying both polio drops and routine immunizations due to misinformation spread by illiterate individuals and false propaganda on social media,” the officials said, emphasizing the devastating consequences of these refusals.
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