Islamabad: Pakistan has confirmed its 73rd case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) for the year 2024, according to the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health. The case was detected in Thatta, marking the first incidence of polio in the region for the year.

According to a statement by Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, the onset of symptoms for the confirmed case began on December 10, 2024, with laboratory confirmation occurring on January 16, 2025. The country has been experiencing a significant resurgence in polio cases, with Balochistan reporting 27 cases, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh each reporting 22, and Punjab and Islamabad each recording one case.

Polio remains a paralyzing disease without a cure, emphasizing the importance of vaccination. The Pakistan Polio Program, in conjunction with the Expanded Program on Immunization, conducts multiple vaccination drives annually. These efforts aim to deliver vaccines directly to children and provide free immunization at health facilities.

The first nationwide polio vaccination campaign of the year is set for February 3-9, 2025. Authorities urge parents to ensure that all children under five years of age receive vaccinations to maintain high immunity levels against the disease.