Pakistan reports 13th polio case of the year
The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, has confirmed a polio case from District Tank in South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
An 18-month-old girl from Union Council Amakhel in District Tank is the seventh polio case from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this year. With this latest detection, the total number of polio cases in Pakistan in 2025 has reached 13 — including seven from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Polio is a highly infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. The only effective protection is through repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) for every child under five during each campaign, along with timely completion of all essential immunizations.
While nationwide efforts to eradicate polio continue to improve the quality of vaccination campaigns, the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remain a major concern due to limited access and challenges in conducting house-to-house vaccination. These obstacles result in missed opportunities, leaving thousands of children unvaccinated and vulnerable to poliovirus.
In 2025, the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme has conducted three nationwide campaigns — in February, April, and May — reaching over 45 million children with the support of more than 400,000 frontline workers, including 225,000 female vaccinators. This progress reflects strong coordination among all partners and growing trust from parents and communities across the country.
Polio eradication is a shared responsibility. While frontline health workers are delivering life-saving vaccines, it is equally essential for all parents and caregivers to ensure their children receive every dose of the polio vaccine. Each dose strengthens immunity and offers lifelong protection. Community engagement and support are vital to stopping poliovirus transmission once and for all.