Islamabad: The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health confirmed the 41st case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in Pakistan for the year, involving a child from Loralai District, Balochistan. The child, who developed paralysis on October 8, marks the first polio case from Loralai and adds to the rising national count amid a worrying surge of virus transmission across the region.

According to Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, this latest case adds to the diverse geographic distribution of polio incidences in 2024, with 21 cases recorded in Balochistan, 12 in Sindh, six in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each in Punjab and Islamabad. Genetic sequencing is ongoing for the samples collected from the affected child in Loralai, where evidence from four consecutive positive sewage samples since June indicates active virus circulation.

In response to the escalating situation, a national polio vaccination campaign is set to begin on October 28, aiming to immunize over 45 million children under five years of age. The government underscores the importance of parental cooperation with the vaccination efforts to ensure every child receives the oral polio vaccine, crucial for safeguarding against the paralytic effects of polio.