Bannu remains polio hotspot, warn experts

Bannu remains polio hotspot, warn experts

PESHAWAR: Experts have warned that Bannu Division is a major concern for global polio eradication efforts alongside Afghanistan. The warning comes as authorities prepare to launch a fractional inactivated polio vaccine (fIPV) campaign following confirmation of the virus in a 10-year-old boy in Khyber tribal district. The drive slated to cover the two districts will begin on Nov 2, according to officials. They said since 1988, when around 350,000 polio cases were reported worldwide annually, the virus had been eliminated from 125 countries, leaving Pakistan and Afghanistan as the only countries where it remains endemic. Fractional inactivated polio vaccine drive to be launched They said the latest case reported in Khyber district was the fifth in the province and the seventh in Pakistan this year. The officials said the affected child, aged 10, had apparently completed the routine immunisation course but no record of vaccination was available. World Health Organisation member Dr Sardar Alam sought the media’s support in building community trust and addressing misconceptions about vaccine acceptance. He said all 49 polio cases reported globally this year so far had been recorded in Pakistan and Afghanistan, with seven and 42 cases, respectively. Dr Alam said poliovirus had been detected in 24 children aged over 60 months across 14 districts, including Khyber and Peshawar. He added that children above five years accounted for five of the 31 polio cases reported in Peshawar in 2025, representing 17pc of the total. Presenting an overview of the province’s polio situation, Dr Alam outlined the major challenges to eradication and stressed the need for sustained vaccination campaigns and collective efforts to protect every child. He said children above five years could lose immunity, allowing the virus to continue circulating. A booster fIPV dose for children aged four months to 10 years was important to strengthen their immunity and reduce transmission within this age group, he added. The WHO member said such interventions were introduced on the advice of the Technical Advisory Board after technical analysis to determine the appropriate age groups and timing of vaccination. Jahanuddin, a social and behaviour change specialist at Unicef, stressed the importance of understanding community perceptions, addressing misconceptions, building trust and encouraging positive attitudes towards polio vaccination and essential immunisation. Unicef communication officer Shadab Younas highlighted the importance of accurate health reporting in protecting and improving public health and urged media organisations to address vaccine hesitancy through human-interest stories, documentaries and the use of neutral, trusted voices to help change public perceptions. PPC vice-president Ziaul Haq said media collaboration was essential to generate demand for vaccines and protect children until polio was eradicated. He said the media supported efforts to counter misinformation and communicate accurate information about vaccination, adding that effective cooperation between journalists and health organisations was necessary to secure a healthier future. Emergency Operations Centre coordinator Sarah Rehman said polio was a preventable but crippling childhood disease, so parents should ensure vaccination of their children during every campaign. She said the administrative machinery, law-enforcement agencies and health department officials were actively involved in eradication efforts but the government could not overcome the challenge alone. “There is a need for support from all segments of society, including the media,” she said. Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2026