Polio Rises in Pakistan as Vaccination Campaign Approaches

Pakistan is facing a worrying increase in polio cases. So far this year, 39 new cases have been confirmed, compared to only six in all of last year. The rise comes just ahead of a major vaccination campaign aimed at immunizing at least 32 million children. The campaign, set to start on October 28, aims to make Pakistan polio-free. The spike in cases is concerning experts. Most new cases are from the southwestern Balochistan and southern Sindh provinces, with additional cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. This is a shift from previous years, where cases were mainly from the northwest, near Afghanistan. Afghanistan, too, is struggling with polio. This year, 18 cases have been reported, with most in the south. The Taliban government in Afghanistan suddenly halted door-to-door vaccinations in September, which could impact Pakistan, given the frequent cross-border travel. The World Health Organization reports that Afghanistan's house-to-house strategy in June was effective, but the halt in vaccinations is worrying. Health officials in Pakistan hope that coordinated efforts on both sides can help combat the disease. Despite risks, Pakistan continues its polio campaigns. Attacks on health workers and police protecting them are common, driven by false claims that vaccinations are a Western plot to sterilize children.