Year's third polio case reported in Sindh’s Larkana

KARACHI: Pakistan on Saturday reported another case of poliovirus from Sindh's Larkana district, taking the total number of cases so far this year to three, confirmed the National Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) spokesperson.

A four-and-a-half-year-old girl from the district tested positive for the debilitating virus, said the spokesperson.

Notably, this is the second reported polio case from the Sindh, the spokesperson said. Another case was reported from Badin district earlier this year.

To counter the rising cases, a special anti-polio campaign has been launched by the Sindh government, said the Sindh EOC.

The campaign’s first phase in 27 high-risk union councils of Karachi was started today, according to the Sindh EOC.

It was inaugurated by Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho.

“As a consequence of large population, migration and movement, the risk of spreading of poliovirus persists,” said the EOC.

The EOC added: “The OPV vaccine will be provided to 562,000 children under the age of five.”

Additionally, the FIPV vaccine will be given to 521,000 children between the ages of 4 months to 5 years, as per the EOC.

It is also important to note that while three polio cases have been reported so far in 2025, a total of 74 cases were reported in 2024.

Out of these, 27 were from Balochistan, 22 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 23 from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.

Pakistan Polio Programme

The existence of poliovirus has been confirmed in the environmental samples taken from eight districts across the country, according to the authorities.

Additionally, the Regional Reference Laboratory of the National Institute of Health also confirmed the presence of poliovirus.

From January 15 to 24, sewage samples were taken from eight districts, the officials said.

According to the authorities, the presence of the virus was confirmed in the environmental samples of Kech, Sibi, Barkhan, Quetta and Gwadar.

The virus was also found in the environmental samples of Bannu, DI Khan and South Waziristan.

Authorities have advised parents that they should provide polio drops to their children.