Pakistan Reports 43rd Wild Polio Case

APP

Islamabad: The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) has confirmed the 43rd case of Wild Poliovirus Type-1 (WPV1) in Pakistan.

This case was identified in a child from the Chagai District of Balochistan, marking the first instance of polio reported in that region this year.

Out of the 43 cases reported in Pakistan so far, 22 are from Balochistan, 12 from Sindh, seven from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad. Genetic sequencing of the samples from the child is currently being conducted.

In response to this situation, a nationwide polio vaccination campaign is taking place from October 28 to November 3, aiming to vaccinate over 45 million children under five years old.

It is crucial for parents to welcome vaccinators into their homes during this campaign to ensure that all children receive two drops of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) to protect them from the serious consequences of polio.