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Pakistan reported a new case of poliovirus in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bringing the total number of cases this year to six, as stated by the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination.
The virus was identified in a nine-month-old infant from Orakzai district when admitted to the hospital, according to the Ministry’s statement quoted by Xinhua news agency.
Alongside this new case, the virus was discovered in 20 environmental samples gathered from 12 districts nationwide, indicating its community spread and posing a significant threat to children under five years old, the statement emphasized.
The Ministry urged parents to ensure their children receive the polio vaccine to safeguard them against potential infection.
A nationwide polio vaccination campaign commenced on November 27, spanning a week and involving polio eradication teams administering vaccines directly to children at their homes.
Pakistan, as noted by the World Health Organization, remains one of the two countries worldwide where polio is still endemic, alongside its neighbor Afghanistan.
