Amid Rising Violence, Polio Cases Continue to Spread in Pakistan

Pakistan reported two additional polio cases today (Friday), bringing the total number of cases to 52 this year, as the country struggles to contain the spread of the virus amid increasing violence.

The two new cases were detected in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, northwestern Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan, according to a statement from the polio eradication program.

Pakistan had managed to reduce the spread of polio through a door-to-door vaccination campaign. Official numbers dropped to 84 cases in 2020, one case in 2021, and 20 cases in 2022.

Six polio cases were recorded last year, compared to a peak of 147 cases in 2019, according to official data.

Officials indicate that tens of thousands of children missed vaccinations amid a surge in violence, contributing to the increase in new cases this year.