Pakistan reports 42nd polio case as vaccination campaign continues

The National Health Organization has confirmed the 42nd case of polio in Pakistan, with the latest report indicating the presence of the Type-1 wild poliovirus in a child from Nowshera district.

The Regional Reference Laboratory at the National Institute of Health (NIH) has released details of the case, marking the first polio incident reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2024.

Genetic sequencing of samples from the affected child is currently underway, according to NIH officials. This year, Pakistan has recorded a total of 42 polio cases, including 21 from Balochistan, 12 from Sindh, and 7 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Additionally, one case each has been reported from Punjab and Islamabad.

In response to the rising number of cases, a nationwide polio vaccination campaign is actively being conducted to combat the spread of the virus and protect children across the country.