Pakistan reports 11th polio case, 1st from Gilgit-Baltistan
In Pakistan, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed a new case of wild poliovirus in District Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan.
This is the first case of wild poliovirus reported from Gilgit-Baltistan and the eleventh confirmed case in Pakistan this year.
The other 10 cases are from as follows: five from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four from Sindh, and one from Punjab.
This brings the global total of wild poliovirus cases to 13 so far in 2025 (2 in Afghanistan).
In all of 2024, 99 wild poliovirus cases were reported (Pakistan-74 and Afghanistan-25).
Polio is caused by a human enterovirus called the poliovirus. The virus is most often spread by the fecal-oral route. Poliovirus enters through the mouth and multiplies in the intestine. Infected individuals shed poliovirus into the environment for several weeks, where it can spread rapidly through a community, especially in areas of poor sanitation. Poliomyelitis can affect any age, but primarily involves children ages less than 5 years and can cause paralysis or even death.
The third nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2025, which began on 26 May, concluded yesterday. The campaign successfully reached over 45 million children under five years of age across 159 districts, including high-risk areas of the country.
Polio with WHO spokesperson, Oliver Rosenbauer
The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme is calling on all parents to ensure their children do not miss out on any opportunity to receive polio drops. Every dose of polio vaccine provides an opportunity to further strengthen immunity and protection against lifelong paralysis. With polio still a threat, community support is vital—no child should be missed.
Oral polio vaccine (OPV) is safe and has been declared halal, or permissible by Islamic leaders all over the world – the Grand Sheik Tantawi of Al-Azhar University, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and the Majelis Council of Ulemmas in Indonesia. Other prominent international institutions endorsing OPV include Dar al Uloom Deo-Band, India; the Organization of the Islamic Conference; the International Union for Muslim Scholars (Mufti Dr. Yousuf al-Qaradawi); Imam of Masjid Al Aqsa (Bait ul Muqades) and other prominent scholars and muftis from all sects in all provinces of Pakistan.
The Government of Saudi Arabia has made it mandatory for Haj travellers from polio-endemic countries to take the polio vaccine irrespective of age and previous vaccination status.