Pakistan has reported its 13th polio case of 2025, with health authorities confirming the virus in an 18-month-old girl from Union Council Amakhel in Tank district, South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
The case was verified by the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Islamabad. The lab also recently confirmed another case involving a 33-month-old boy from Bannu district, also located in KP.
With this latest case, KP’s total number of infections this year has reached seven—the highest of any province so far.
The National Polio Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) noted that limited access to certain areas in southern KP continues to pose a significant barrier to door-to-door vaccination efforts.
“We are working closely with provincial and district administrations to reach every child,” the EOC said in a statement, urging parents to take polio seriously and ensure their children receive the vaccine during every immunisation campaign.
So far in 2025, Pakistan has reported:
- 7 cases from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- 4 cases from Sindh
- 1 case each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan
virus continues to show up in sewage samples
Recent findings from the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme’s environmental surveillance further highlight the virus’s persistence. Poliovirus was detected in sewage samples from seven districts: Quetta, Gwadar, Lower and Upper South Waziristan, Larkana, Rawalpindi, and Mirpurkhas.
However, two bright spots were noted: samples from Pishin and Lahore came back virus-free—an encouraging sign in an otherwise difficult landscape.
Between May 8 and May 23, authorities collected nine sewage samples across nine districts as part of routine monitoring. These results serve as early warnings and help guide future immunisation efforts.
polio remains a serious threat
Polio is a highly contagious viral disease that mainly affects children under five. In severe cases, it can lead to lifelong paralysis or even death. While there is no cure, timely vaccination remains the most effective defense.
Despite significant progress over the years, Pakistan remains one of only two countries in the world—alongside Afghanistan—where polio remains endemic.
In 2025, Pakistan has already carried out three nationwide immunisation drives—in February, April, and May—reaching over 45 million children. These efforts have involved more than 400,000 frontline workers, including 225,000 female vaccinators.
The third National Immunisation Days (NIDs) campaign launched last month reaffirmed the country’s commitment to eradicating polio.
Last year, Pakistan recorded 74 polio cases. Balochistan had the highest count with 27, followed by Sindh (23), KP (22), and one case each from Punjab and Islamabad. While 2025’s numbers are lower so far, the continued presence of the virus in both human cases and the environment remains a serious public health concern.
