Islamabad – Pakistan – A new polio case has been confirmed in Tank district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing the national total for 2025 to 24 cases. The latest victim is a 20-month-old girl from Ping union council, belonging to the Bettani tribe. Notably, the area is considered highly security-compromised and has limited access for vaccination teams. Additionally, no travel history was reported for the child, indicating local transmission.
In response to the ongoing threat, a week-long special anti-polio campaign commenced in 26 of Balochistan’s 36 districts. The provincial government has implemented stringent security measures to protect vaccination teams, following a recent targeted killing of a polio supervisor in Chaman. Over 11,000 teams, including mobile, fixed, and transit units, are participating in the campaign, aiming to vaccinate more than 2.18 million children under five years old.
Inam-ul-Haq, Coordinator of the Emergency Operations Centre Balochistan, emphasized the critical nature of this campaign in combating the poliovirus. He urged parents to ensure their children receive the vaccine, warning that failure to do so could result in lifelong disability. The campaign spans various districts, including Quetta, Pishin, Chaman, and Khuzdar, among others.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.