The first polio case of 2023 has been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday, Aaj News has learnt.

The type-1 wild poliovirus (WPV1) was confirmed in the child from Bannu, who is three years old, sources said.

The Ministry of Health has also launched a vaccination campaign, which is being held in two phases due to the concurring activities of the seventh national census.

In the first phase, over 17.41 million children under the age of five in 13 districts of Punjab and 16 districts of Sindh and Islamabad will be vaccinated from March 13 to March 17.

The second phase will be held from April 03 to 07 – during the second week of Ramadan – to vaccinate more than 4.12 million children in 12 districts of Balochistan and 26 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the seven endemic districts in the southern region of the province.

Last year, 20 polio cases were detected in Pakistan. 17 cases were reported from North Waziristan, two from Lucky Marwat and one from South Waziristan. All of them were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.