Pakistan’s polio tally has reached 43 cases this year, following the latest detection in Balochistan’s Chagai district, as confirmed by the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme on Wednesday. The case highlights the challenges Pakistan faces as one of only two countries, alongside Afghanistan, where polio remains endemic. Efforts to combat the virus are frequently hindered by persistent militant attacks on polio vaccination teams, which impact eradication efforts, according to reports by Dawn.

In response to the rising cases, Pakistan launched a week-long vaccination drive on Monday, with the goal of immunising over 45 million children under the age of five across the country. This campaign aims to prevent further cases and support ongoing eradication initiatives.