Islamabad: The National Institute of Health’s Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication has confirmed the 40th case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in Pakistan for 2024, affecting a child from Kohat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This is the second confirmed polio case from Kohat this year, underscoring concerns about virus circulation in the district.

According to Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, the latest case was confirmed on October 23, 2024, bringing the national total for the year to 40 cases. Balochistan has reported 20 cases, Sindh 12, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa six, while Punjab and Islamabad have each reported one. Additionally, four environmental samples from different regions have tested positive for WPV1 this year, with genetic sequencing underway to understand the virus’s circulation dynamics.

In response, the Pakistan Polio Programme is set to launch a nationwide vaccination campaign on October 28, aiming to immunize more than 45 million children under five. Health authorities emphasize the importance of parents ensuring their children receive two drops of the oral polio vaccine to prevent the risks associated with polio infection.