The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a polio epidemic in Malawi after a case was discovered in a small kid in the capital Lilongwe, the first instance of wild poliovirus in Africa in more than five years.

Laboratory examination revealed that the strain found in Malawi was linked to one that has been circulating in Pakistan, where it is still endemic, the WHO said in a statement.

"As an imported case from Pakistan, this detection does not affect the African region's wild poliovirus-free certification status," the WHO added.

According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the case in the southern African country included a three-year-old child who became paralyzed in November of last year.

The virus was verified as type 1 wild poliovirus (WPV1) after sequencing by South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in February.

"Detection of WPV1 outside the world's two remaining endemic countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan, is a serious concern and underscores the importance of prioritizing polio immunization activities," the Global Polio Eradication Initiative said.

Polio is a highly contagious disease that attacks the nervous system and could cause complete paralysis in 24 hours. The WHO stated that while there is no cure for polio, it can be prevented through vaccination.