Polio Status

World Polio status 2024 Pakistan & Afghanistan on top list of endemic for year 2024

Polio status in 2024:

In 2024, polio is still a health concern in many countries. It’s a disease that can make people very sick, and in some cases, it can cause paralysis or even be fatal. Although we’ve made progress, there are still reports of polio in 31 countries.

Pakistan Polio status in 2024

In the latest polio case, a nine-month-old in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Orakzai district is confirmed infected, marking Pakistan’s sixth case in 2023. The Ministry of Health is urgently addressing the situation, with caretaker Minister Dr. Nadeem Jan emphasizing eradication efforts.

A recent drive targeted 21.6 million children nationwide, concluding in Punjab, where 2 lakh workers vaccinated over 22.5 million children. District officers closely monitor the campaign’s data for effectiveness. The ongoing struggle against polio remains a public health priority in Pakistan.

Sixth Poliovirus in lahore

The poliovirus remains a significant threat in Lahore, with the National Institute of Health confirming its presence in sewage from a July 9th sample, marking the sixth consecutive detection this year. Despite ongoing vaccination campaigns, the virus persists, raising serious concerns among health officials and the public.

Poliovirus Detected in Peshawar and Sibi

In Peshawar and Sibi, Pakistan, Wild Poliovirus Type-1 was found in environmental samples, signaling ongoing challenges in polio eradication efforts. Genetic linkage to neighboring regions underscores the need for intensified vaccination and surveillance to prevent further spread in these areas.

Polio remains endemic in two countries:

Polio status shows two countries ,Afghanistan and Pakistan. As long as poliovirus transmission persists in these nations, there is a risk of polio importation into other countries, particularly those with weak public health and immunization systems and travel or trade connections to the endemic countries.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is funded by a diverse group of public and private donors who contribute to cover the costs of eradication activities. The projected financial requirements for the period 2019-2023 are approximately US$ 4.2 billion. This funding is critical for the ongoing efforts to combat polio and work towards its global eradication.

Polio Status	New Polio vaccine
31 countries report polio cases in 2023 including Pakistan and Afghanistan on top list .	Manufactured by various pharmaceutical companies.
Polio is a crippling disease affecting the nervous system.	Clinical trials show it’s effective and genetically stable.
Symptoms range from mild to severe, including paralysis and even death.	Approximately 820 million doses distributed in 35 countries by 2023.
Polio workers must be provided with the security to operate in vulnerable areas	An additional 16 countries approved for using nOPV2 in outbreaks.

A New Polio Vaccine – nOPV2:

But there’s good news! There’s a new type of polio vaccine called nOPV2. It’s not like the regular polio vaccine; it’s special. Here’s what you need to know about it:

• Made by Various Companies: Different companies make this vaccine, and they are experts in making vaccines.Through innovations in Science we can change the polio status of the world polio free world .
• Proven to Work: Scientists have tested it, and it’s been shown to be really good at protecting against polio. What’s even better is that it’s less likely to cause problems in places where people don’t have strong immunity to polio.
• Given in Many Places: As of October 29, 2023, about 820 million doses of nOPV2 have been given to people in 35 countries. This means more and more people are getting this vaccine to stay safe from polio.

Comparis of polio vaccines

Description	nOPV2	IPV (Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine)
Indication/usage	Used to control type 2 cVDPV2 outbreaks under WHO EUL.	Part of routine childhood immunization schedules and used in polio eradication.
Doses Administered	Approximately 600 million doses across 28 countries.	Widely administered as part of routine immunization schedules.
Impact	Reduced emergence and transmission of cVDPV2.	Effective in preventing polio.
Clinical Trials	Safety data from over 12,000 participants in seven countries.	Well-established safety data from extensive clinical trials.
Adverse Events	Mostly non-serious events; includes Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and acute flaccid paralysis (AFP).	Limited to non-serious reactions, primarily local
Causal Association	Rates of adverse events are lower than expected background incidence.	No serious adverse events causally related to IPV.
Co-administration	Notable effectiveness and safety when used alongside other vaccines.	Co-administered with various vaccines without significant safety concerns.
SIDS Relationship	No causal relationship between Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and multiple vaccines, including nOPV2.	No causal relationship between SIDS and IPV.
Overall Safety	Safety profile is favourable	IPV and IPV-containing vaccines have an excellent safety profile.

Why It’s Important:

The new vaccine is a big deal because it helps us get closer to our goal of getting rid of polio everywhere. No one wants to see more people getting sick from polio, and this new vaccine is a powerful tool to make sure that doesn’t happen. With the help of this vaccine, we hope to see a world where polio is a thing of the past, and everyone is safe from it.

Misinformation in pakistan :

In Pakistan, concerning polio misinformation includes

• Fake videos of children falling sick after polio vaccination.
• False claims that vaccines are unsafe and cause other diseases.
• Rumors that vaccines are used by the rich to control the world.
• Allegations linking the polio vaccine to AIDS.
• Accusations that vaccines are satanic and anti-Islam. Misinformation has disrupted vaccination efforts, risking children’s health.

Bottom Line

Polio status in 2023,describes on top ,mainly Pakistan and Afghanistan because in both countries ,religious and traditional norms does not allwo polio workers to administer the polio vaccines so these polio workers must be provided with security personnel to operate such areas and there is a need to make aware of the benefits of polio vaccine .

Despite progress in science and technology ,even today the polio status remains a global concern, highlighting the ongoing need for vaccination and eradication efforts.