ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan began on Monday its last nationwide vaccination campaign for the year to protect 45 million children from polio after a surge in new cases hampered efforts to stop the disease, officials said.

As the polio cases soared to 63 this year, the federal government is all set to begin its last vaccination drive of 2024 across 143 districts in the

Pakistan on Sunday launched the last anti-polio campaign of the year in another attempt to eradicate the crippling disease from the country. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched the campaign at a ceremony in the capital Islamabad, according to a statement from his office.

Pakistan has reported a significant surge in poliovirus infections in 2024, confirming 63 cases so far, compared to only six cases in 2023