Pakistan has reported four new cases of polio taking the total number of cases in the country this year to 37. Despite global efforts to eradicate polio, Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the last two countries in the world where wild poliovirus continues to grow. As per the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) officials, these cases have been reported in the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

The recent victims of the poliovirus 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.

PEI officials reveal that these cases are on the rise in rural and underdeveloped regions of the country. But what is the cause behind this? As per reports, a major factor contributing to the spread of polio cases in Pakistan is vaccine refusal. People are refusing to get their kids vaccinated due to misinformation and conspiracy theories in many parts of Balochistan and KP.

One of the major challenges that Pakistan has been facing is vaccine hesitancy in the fight to eradicate polio. Some theories suggest that the polio vaccine causes infertility.

"Parents are denying both polio drops and routine immunizations due to misinformation spread by illiterate people and false propaganda on social media," officials stated. "Without proper immunization, children in these areas are at high risk of contracting the debilitating disease, which can lead to permanent paralysis or death," they further said in a media interaction.

Despite the success of vaccination campaigns in many parts of the country, several regions remain difficult to reach. Remote areas, especially in Balochistan and KP. Officials warn that if people continue to refuse vaccines, Pakistan could see a resurgence of polio cases soon.

As per the World Health Organization, polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. It invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours. The virus is transmitted by person-to-person spread mainly through the faecal-oral route or, less frequently, by a common vehicle (for example, contaminated water or food) and multiplies in the intestine.

Initial symptoms are:

- Fever,

- Fatigue,

- Headache,

- Vomiting,

- Stiffness of the neck and pain in the limbs.

As per the data by WHO, one in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis (usually in the legs). Among those paralysed, 5–10 per cent die when their breathing muscles become immobilized. Polio mainly affects children under 5 years of age. However, anyone of any age who is unvaccinated can contract the disease.

Get Your Child Vaccinated: Make sure your child receives all the doses of the polio vaccine. The oral polio vaccine (OPV) is provided free of cost during national immunization drives in Pakistan. It is crucial to not miss these rounds, as they protect your child.

Stay Informed: Educate yourself about polio and the importance of vaccination. Avoid falling prey to misinformation or conspiracy theories circulating on social media or through word of mouth. Trust reliable sources like the World Health Organization (WHO) and consult a health expert.

Participate in National Immunization Days (NIDs): Pakistan regularly conducts National Immunization Days (NIDs), where health workers travel door-to-door to give polio vaccines.

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