Pakistan's polio fight in 2024: A resurgence of cases and renewed challenges

Once a near-success story in the fight against polio, Pakistan saw a sharp resurgence in 2024 with 64 reported cases, a troubling increase from just six cases in 2023. Meanwhile, Afghanistan, despite its conflict-driven challenges, reported 25 cases. Together, these two nations remain the last strongholds of this crippling disease.

What went wrong in Pakistan?

• Over 1 million children missed vaccines during a critical September campaign.
• Demand-based refusals surged as communities protested over gas shortages and infrastructure gaps, leveraging vaccination drives to highlight grievances.
• Persistent misinformation fuels fear, with some parents believing vaccines cause infertility or are part of a "Western agenda".
• 300,000 frontline health workers face hostility and danger with over 70 workers have been killed since 2012.

Afghanistan vs. Pakistan

While Afghanistan has reported fewer cases, experts attribute Pakistan's higher numbers to a more transparent reporting system and better surveillance infrastructure. It’s suspected that many polio cases in Afghanistan may go unreported due to inadequate healthcare access and security issues.

Steps forward

In Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar, officials now require a polio vaccination certificate for essential documents like birth and marriage registrations. Experts emphasize the urgent need to close immunization gaps and rebuild trust within communities.

The stakes are high. Polio knows no borders, and mass vaccination remains the only weapon to eradicate this disease.