Pakistan Confirms Second Polio Case of 2025

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reported its second poliovirus case of 2025, with the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health confirming the detection on Wednesday.

According to a press statement from the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, the latest case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) was detected in Badin district, Sindh, on February 12. Earlier, the first case of the year was reported from Dera Ismail Khan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In 2024, the country recorded a total of 74 polio cases—27 from Balochistan, 22 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 23 from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.

Importance of Vaccination

Polio remains a life-threatening disease with no cure, and the only protection against it is immunization. The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme conducts multiple nationwide vaccination campaigns each year, ensuring children under five receive oral polio drops. Additionally, the Expanded Programme on Immunisation offers free vaccinations against 12 childhood diseases at health facilities.

“It is crucial for parents to ensure vaccination for all children under five to keep them protected,” the programme urged.

The first nationwide polio campaign of 2025, conducted from February 3 to 9, successfully vaccinated more than 45 million children, achieving 99% of its target.

Ongoing Polio Battle

Pakistan remains one of only two polio-endemic countries in the world, alongside Afghanistan. While polio cases had significantly declined in recent years, a resurgence poses a renewed challenge for eradication efforts.

Health authorities continue to emphasize the need for complete vaccination to provide children with high immunity against this crippling disease.