Pakistan reports 11th polio case this year

KARACHI, Pakistan

Pakistan has reported a new polio case, raising the tally to 11 this year, the Health Ministry confirmed on Monday.

The fresh case was reported from the Diamer district of the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, which borders neighboring China, on Saturday.

This is the first-ever wild poliovirus case reported in the region this year.

The patient is a 23-month-old male child who has tested positive for the virus.

It coincided with a week-long nationwide anti-polio drive launched by the Health Ministry on May 26.

Last year, the country reported 74 polio cases.

Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two remaining polio-endemic countries in the world.