Type-1 Wild Poliovirus (WPV1) has been detected at 18 sites, including four new districts: Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Swabi, and Swat.
The detection has been confirmed by the regional reference laboratory for polio eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad.
This brings the total count of infected districts for 2024 to 38.
In Lakki Marwat, the sample was collected on April 22nd. This is the first positive sample from District Lakki Marwat this year.
Last Friday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed hope that the government, in collaboration with global partners and national institutions, would be able to eliminate polio from Pakistan very soon.
