New Delhi: The week-long polio eradication program, which could not take off over the last several years because of terror threats, started on Monday amid tight security in Pakistan. At least 63 polio cases have been reported in Pakistan recently.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries worldwide where the paralyzing virus is still active More than 44.7 million children under the age of five are likely to be vaccinated across 143 districts of Pakistan to prevent the resurgence of the polio virus.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday inaugurated the campaign by administering polio drops to children.
Afghanistan reported at least 23 confirmed cases in 2024, according to data from the WHO.