New polio case reported, Pakistan tally now fourteen

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Pakistan has reported a new polio case in North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, raising the total number of cases in 2025 to 14, according to The Express Tribune.

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad confirmed poliovirus in a 19-month-old boy from Union Council Miranshah-3. This marks the eighth polio case in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this year.

So far in 2025, Pakistan has recorded 14 polio cases: eight in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four in Sindh, and one each in Punjab and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB).

Despite continuous vaccination efforts, southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remain a major challenge. Limited access and difficulty conducting house-to-house vaccinations have left thousands of children unvaccinated and vulnerable to polio.

Polio is an incurable disease that can lead to lifelong paralysis. Health officials emphasize that repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) and completing all essential immunisations are vital to protect children under five.

Recently, 17,485 children were vaccinated with OPV in a special campaign in six union councils of Bannu from June 23 to 28. A similar targeted campaign is planned for 11 union councils in North Waziristan.

Additionally, a large-scale special vaccination campaign is scheduled for August in South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to tackle the rising risk.

Health officials warn that cases in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa highlight the urgent need to vaccinate every child. Unvaccinated children continue to face serious risks, making strong community participation and access essential to eliminate polio from the region.