• 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 Pakistan, bringing the number of total cases in the country this year to 45.
  • On Friday, November 1, the lab confirmed the cases from Lakki Marwat, where a girl child is affected, and from DI Khan, where a male child is affected.
  • Genetic sequencing of the samples collected from the children is underway.
  • These are thesecond polio cases reported from DI Khan and Lakki Marwat this year, where environmental samples have tested positive in recent months.
  • So far, 22 polio cases have been reported from Balochistan,12from 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.
  • Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five is essential to keep them protected.
  • As the Pakistan Polio Programme implements a nationwide polio campaign this week until November 3, it is critical for parents to open their door to vaccinators and ensure that all children in their care receive OPV to keep them protected from the devastating effects of polio