Pakistan Faces Surge in Polio Cases, Threatening Eradication Efforts

A spike in polio cases since March jeopardizes Pakistan's goal of becoming polio-free, amid challenges including halted vaccination campaigns and attacks on health workers.

Pakistan has reported 32 new polio cases since March, raising concerns about the country's polio eradication efforts.
A nationwide anti-polio campaign is set to begin on October 28, aiming to vaccinate 32 million children.
Most new cases are concentrated in the northwest and Balochistan, areas affected by Afghanistan's halt of door-to-door vaccinations.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation supports Pakistan's polio eradication with a $1.2 billion commitment.
A recent attack on a polio worker in Sindh province underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by vaccination teams.