Pakistan reports 3 new polio cases, bringing tally to 55 in 2024

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 24 (Xinhua) — Pakistan reported three polio cases on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases in the country this year to 55, according to an official statement.
The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health confirmed the detection of Wild Poliovirus Type 1 (WPV1) in three districts, including Dera Ismail Khan, Zhob and Jaffarabad.
Dera Ismail Khan, a district in the country’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has reported six polio cases this year. Meanwhile, the southwestern districts of Zhob and Jaffarabad have reported three and two cases, respectively, the statement said.
The statement said that the Pakistan Polio Program has conducted multiple mass vaccination drives since January 2024, providing vaccines directly to children at their doorsteps. ■