Karachi: A new case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) has been reported in Pakistan, raising the total number of WPV1 cases in the country this year to three. The latest case, identified in the Larkana district of Sindh province, emerged with an onset date of February 6, 2025.

According to a statement by World Health Organization, the total number of WPV1 cases reported globally in 2025 now stands at four, with three cases in Pakistan and one in Afghanistan. In 2024, the count was significantly higher, with 99 cases reported, including 74 in Pakistan and 25 in Afghanistan.

The situation in Pakistan is further compounded by the detection of 13 new WPV1-positive environmental samples this week. These samples, all collected within Pakistan, include eight from Sindh province and four from Balochistan province, along with one from the Islamabad capital area.

In Yemen, two new cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) have been reported. These cases originate from the Taiz province, with onset dates in October 2024, bringing Yemen’s total to 37 cVDPV2 cases for 2024.

The surveillance of environmental samples continues to reveal new infections. In Djibouti, two cVDPV2-positive environmental samples were reported, adding to the ongoing challenges faced by health authorities in controlling the spread of the virus.

The World Health Organization continues to monitor and respond to these developments as global health efforts aim to curb the spread of poliovirus.