ISLAMABAD: The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, has confirmed two new poliovirus cases in Sindh one each from District Badin and District Thatta. Both patients are young girls.
With these confirmations, Pakistan’s total polio cases for 2025 have risen to 29, including 18 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, nine from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Polio is a highly infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. Health officials stress that the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) remains the only effective protection and must be administered repeatedly to every child under the age of five during each vaccination drive, along with routine immunizations.
A Sub-National Polio Vaccination Campaign conducted in September 2025 across 88 districts, including Badin and Thatta, reached nearly 21 million children under five. The next nationwide campaign is scheduled for 13–19 October 2025, targeting 45.4 million children. During this drive, Vitamin A will also be administered to strengthen immunity. Over 400,000 frontline workers will go door-to-door to ensure every eligible child is vaccinated.
Authorities have urged parents and caregivers to ensure their children receive OPV in every campaign, as well as complete all routine immunizations. Communities, teachers, religious leaders, and the media are encouraged to support vaccination efforts and counter misinformation to help Pakistan achieve a polio-free future.
For details, contact the Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline at 1166 or the Polio Helpline via WhatsApp at 0346-7776546.
