Daijiworld Media Network- Islamabad

Islamabad, Jan10: The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in a child from Karachi, Dawn reported.

The case, reported in Karachi's East district, involves a male child and has been added to Pakistan's 2024 tally. This brings the total number of polio cases in Karachi's East district to two for the year. Overall, Pakistan has witnessed 70 polio cases in 2024, with regional breakdowns as follows: 27 cases from Balochistan, 21 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 20 from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.

To combat this resurgence of wild poliovirus type 1, Pakistan will launch its first nationwide vaccination campaign for 2025 from February 3 to February 9, as reported by Dawn.

Earlier this week, a new polio case was confirmed in Tank, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Polio remains a significant health concern in Pakistan, as it continues to be endemic in the country alongside Afghanistan. Factors contributing to the persistence of the disease include security challenges in some regions, vaccine hesitancy, and misinformation that has hindered vaccination efforts. Health experts stress the importance of completing the full vaccination schedule to prevent further outbreaks. Polio primarily affects children under five and can lead to permanent paralysis or death.