Islamabad, April 26: In a troubling report, Pakistan has witnessed the deaths of 71 children due to measles in the first four months of 2026. Sindh province recorded the highest number, with 40 fatalities, as reported by local media on Sunday.
According to the renowned daily Dawn, after Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa each reported 12 deaths, while four children in Balochistan could not be saved.
From January to April 2026, Pakistan has recorded 4,541 cases of measles. The breakdown includes 1,712 cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1,198 in Punjab, 1,183 in Sindh, 17 in Balochistan, 55 in Islamabad, 151 in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and 45 in Gilgit-Baltistan.
In addition to measles, Pakistan continues to face challenges in its fight against polio. Public trust in vaccines remains low, leading to increased susceptibility to the disease. In 2026 alone, a case of polio was reported in Sujawal, Sindh.
The country recorded 74 polio cases in 2024 and 31 in 2025. Dawn reported that in 2025, nine polio cases were documented in Sindh, with nearly 80% of environmental samples testing positive for the virus.
Recently, the Chief Minister of Sindh claimed significant progress in combating polio, stating that the environmental positivity rate has decreased to 24%.
Khalid Shafi from the Pakistan Pediatric Association noted, “While the government continues its efforts, there are numerous challenges regarding regular immunization. The biggest hurdle is vaccine hesitancy.” He urged the formulation of strategies to raise awareness about vaccinating children against polio.
Local media frequently reports attacks on personnel assigned to protect polio teams. On April 13, a police constable was killed, and four others were injured when an enforcement party escorting polio teams was attacked in Hangu district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
This incident occurred on the first day of a vaccination campaign scheduled from April 13 to 19. According to a statement from the Hangu District Police, unidentified assailants opened fire on the police party, resulting in one death and four injuries. The injured officers were taken to the hospital, and a search operation was launched to locate the attackers.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world where wild poliovirus remains endemic. Polio workers in Pakistan are frequently targeted, particularly in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
In February, an attack on a vaccination team in Chaman, Balochistan, resulted in the death of a police officer.
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My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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