Islamabad: The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the 42nd case of Wild Poliovirus Type-1 (WPV1) in Pakistan. This recent case involves a child from the Nowshera District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, marking the first instance of polio in that area this year.

According to Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, the confirmation came on Tuesday, 29 October 2024, adding to the growing number of cases within the country. The current distribution includes 21 cases from Balochistan, 12 from Sindh, seven from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad. Genetic sequencing of the samples from the affected child is being conducted to further understand the origins and characteristics of this particular strain.

The detection of the virus coincides with a nationwide polio vaccination campaign aimed at immunizing more than 45 million children under the age of five. The campaign, running from 28 October to 3 November, emphasizes the importance of parental cooperation to ensure children receive the oral polio vaccine, which is crucial in preventing the debilitating effects of the disease.