Quetta: Pakistan has reported another polio case in 2024, bringing total to 33 this year after child from Quetta was diagnosed with virus.

Affected child showed symptoms of polio on August 22. Quetta has seen three polio cases, with 37 sewerage samples testing positive for virus. Additionally, Quetta block has recorded 11 polio cases and 65 positive sewerage samples. Balochistan remains most affected province, with 17 cases reported. Sindh has recorded 10 cases, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa four and one case each from Islamabad and Punjab.

On September 5, National Institute of Health presented detailed statistics on polio cases in Pakistan before National Assembly. NIH reported total of 45 polio cases across Pakistan over past four years. In 2021, only one case was reported, while number surged to 20 in 2022. During 2023, eight new cases were recorded, followed by 16 cases in 2024, as confirmed by Ministry of Health. In terms of funding, $ 180 million was allocated for National Polio Eradication Programme in 2022, which increased to $ 187 million in 2023. For ongoing year, 2024, programme has been allocated $ 80 million.

Ministry of Health emphasised that since January 2022, total of $ 447 million has been spent on polio eradication efforts, highlighting government’s commitment to eliminating disease from country.