ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has confirmed two new polio cases, one each in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Sindh provinces, bringing the total number of cases reported in 2025 to 21. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) confirmed that a six-year-old girl from Union Council Pattan in KP’s Kohistan district and a 21-month-old girl from UC Matli-2 in Sindh’s Badin district have tested positive for the poliovirus.
This development underscores the persistent challenges in eradicating polio in Pakistan, one of the last two countries in the world, alongside Afghanistan, where the disease remains endemic. Despite significant efforts, including nationwide vaccination campaigns, the virus continues to circulate in certain areas, particularly where vaccine acceptance remains low.
In response to these new cases, health authorities have announced a sub-national polio vaccination campaign scheduled from September 1 to 7, targeting over 28 million children under the age of five in 99 districts across all provinces and regions. A separate campaign in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will commence on September 15. The goal is to ensure every child in these districts receives the vaccine to protect them from the lifelong consequences of polio.
Health officials emphasize the importance of repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) for every child under five during each campaign, along with the timely completion of all essential immunizations. They warn that every unvaccinated child is at risk and can also pose a risk to others, as poliovirus can resurface wherever immunity gaps exist.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.