Pakistan reports 2 additional WPV1 cases, brings total to 45

Pakistan health officials with the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of two more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in the country, bringing the number of total cases in the country this year to 45. Six cases were reported in all of 2023 in Pakistan, a 650 percent increase year to date.

The lab confirmed the cases from Lakki Marwat, where a girl child is affected, and from DI Khan, where a male child is affected, on Friday.

These are the second polio cases reported from DI Khan and Lakki Marwat this year, where environmental samples have tested positive in recent months.

To date, 22 polio cases have been reported from Balochistan,12 from Sindh, nine from KP and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.

WPV1 has been detected in 76 districts from all four provinces, indicating widespread circulation of the virus and a continued serious risk to children’s well-being from a disease that can paralyze them for life.

The nationwide polio campaign this week continues until November 3. The goal is to immunize over 45 million children under five years of age against paralytic polio.

In addition, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in environmental (sewage) samples collected from 27 districts in Pakistan- Hyderabad, Lahore, Jamshoro, Karachi Central, Kambar, Islamabad, Karachi South, Rawalpindi, Pishin, Lakki Marwat, Mirpur Khas, Karachi East, Karachi Korangi, Noshki, Quetta, Zhob, Peshawar, DI Khan, Attock, Mianwali, Hub, Bahawalnagar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bannu, Rahim Yar Khan, Jhang and Mansehra tested positive for WPV1.