New WPV1 case reports in Pakistan 

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) has confirmed a new case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in a male child from Karachi East. This marks the second polio case reported from Karachi East this year and brings the nationwide total to 70 cases in 2024.

The latest case had an onset date of December 21, 2024. Among the total reported cases, 27 are from Balochistan, 21 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 20 from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.

Polio, a paralyzing disease with no cure, can only be prevented through vaccination. The Pakistan Polio Program emphasizes the importance of administering multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completing the routine immunization schedule to protect children under five.

To combat the resurgence, the Pakistan Polio Program conducts frequent mass vaccination drives, delivering vaccines directly to homes. Additionally, the Expanded Program on Immunization provides free vaccinations for 12 childhood diseases, including polio, at health facilities nationwide.

The first nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2025 is scheduled for February 3–9. Authorities urge parents to ensure all children under five are vaccinated to protect them from this life-threatening disease.