Pakistani health authorities have reported two fresh poliovirus cases—one each from Sindh and Punjab provinces—dealing a setback to the nation's ongoing efforts to eliminate the disease.
According to Geo News, these new infections emerged in Qambar district of Sindh and Mandi Bahauddin district of Punjab, raising the total number of confirmed polio cases in Pakistan to five this year.
The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) verified these cases, highlighting this as the third case reported in Sindh and the first one in Punjab for 2025.
In 2024, Pakistan recorded 74 polio cases, with the highest count reported from Balochistan (27 cases), followed by Sindh (23), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (22), and one case each in Punjab and Islamabad.
Polio, a devastating disease that can cause permanent paralysis, remains incurable. However, health experts emphasize that administering multiple doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV) and completing routine vaccination schedules for children under five can significantly enhance immunity against the virus.
Pakistan actively conducts mass immunization campaigns throughout the year to combat polio. Through its anti-polio vaccination program, health workers deliver vaccines directly to children's doorsteps. Additionally, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) offers free vaccinations against 12 childhood diseases at various healthcare facilities nationwide.
Earlier this month, the first nationwide polio campaign of 2025, held from February 3 to 9, achieved remarkable success by immunizing over 45 million children across Pakistan, meeting 99% of its targeted coverage.
Despite rigorous vaccination drives, Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the world's only two countries where poliovirus transmission continues actively. Health officials attribute this persistent challenge primarily to vaccine hesitancy driven by extremist narratives that falsely portray the vaccine as a conspiracy aimed at sterilizing Muslim populations.
Continued vigilance and community engagement remain critical as Pakistan pushes forward in its fight against polio.
According to Geo News, these new infections emerged in Qambar district of Sindh and Mandi Bahauddin district of Punjab, raising the total number of confirmed polio cases in Pakistan to five this year.
The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) verified these cases, highlighting this as the third case reported in Sindh and the first one in Punjab for 2025.
In 2024, Pakistan recorded 74 polio cases, with the highest count reported from Balochistan (27 cases), followed by Sindh (23), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (22), and one case each in Punjab and Islamabad.
Polio, a devastating disease that can cause permanent paralysis, remains incurable. However, health experts emphasize that administering multiple doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV) and completing routine vaccination schedules for children under five can significantly enhance immunity against the virus.
Pakistan actively conducts mass immunization campaigns throughout the year to combat polio. Through its anti-polio vaccination program, health workers deliver vaccines directly to children's doorsteps. Additionally, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) offers free vaccinations against 12 childhood diseases at various healthcare facilities nationwide.
Earlier this month, the first nationwide polio campaign of 2025, held from February 3 to 9, achieved remarkable success by immunizing over 45 million children across Pakistan, meeting 99% of its targeted coverage.
Despite rigorous vaccination drives, Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the world's only two countries where poliovirus transmission continues actively. Health officials attribute this persistent challenge primarily to vaccine hesitancy driven by extremist narratives that falsely portray the vaccine as a conspiracy aimed at sterilizing Muslim populations.
Continued vigilance and community engagement remain critical as Pakistan pushes forward in its fight against polio.
