Pakistan adds another polio case to 2024 tally

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) on Tuesday confirmed the detection of the 74th wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) case of 2024 in Pakistan. 

The new case was confirmed by the lab is from Shikarpur, bringing the city's total number of poliovirus cases to two. The case was suspected on December 15, 2024

A total of 74 cases have been reported in 2024. 27 of these cases are from Balochistan, 23 are from Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) reported 22 with Punjab and Islamabad reporting one case each. 

So far, in 2025, only one polio case has been reported, from KP.

Polio is a paralysing disease that has no cure. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five is essential to provide children high immunity against this terrible disease.

The Pakistan Polio Program conducts multiple mass vaccination drives in a year, bringing the vaccine to children at their doorsteps, while the Expanded Program on Immunisation provides vaccinations against 12 childhood disease free of charge at health facilities. It is crucial for parents to ensure vaccination for all their children under the age of five to keep them protected.

The first nationwide polio campaign of 2025 has been successfully concluded, with 99% of the targets achieved across the country. The campaign was conducted from February 3 to 9.

During this campaign, more than 45 million children were vaccinated against the disabling disease.