ISLAMABAD: The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) has confirmed two new cases of polio in Pakistan one from District Kohistan Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the other from District Badin, Sindh.
According to the lab report, the latest cases involve a 72-month-old girl from Union Council Pattan in Kohistan Lower and a 21-month-old girl from Union Council Matli-2 in Badin. With these detections, the total number of polio cases in Pakistan in 2025 has risen to 21—including 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, six from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Polio is a highly infectious and incurable viral disease that can cause permanent paralysis. The only protection is repeated doses of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) for every child under five during each campaign, alongside timely completion of all routine immunizations.
Despite significant progress in eradication efforts, the continued appearance of cases shows that children remain at risk in areas with low vaccine acceptance.
To address immunity gaps, the Sub-National Polio Vaccination Campaign will be conducted from September 1–7, 2025, targeting more than 28 million children under five in 99 districts nationwide. In Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the campaign will run from September 15.
Health officials emphasized that polio eradication is a shared responsibility. While frontline health workers are working tirelessly to deliver vaccines, parents and caregivers must ensure that their children receive all recommended doses. Communities are urged to support vaccination efforts, counter misinformation, and encourage others to participate.
For guidance, parents may contact the Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline at 1166 or the Polio Helpline via WhatsApp at 0346-7776546.
