Two new polio cases in KP push Pakistan’s 2025 tally to 10

Pakistan's polio tally for 2025 has climbed to 10, with two new wild poliovirus cases confirmed in Lakki Marwat and Bannu by the National Institute of Health's (NIH) Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication.

Of the total, five cases are from KP, four from Sindh, and one from Punjab.

While high-quality polio vaccination campaigns continue nationwide, certain areas, particularly in southern KP, continue to face challenges such as restricted access and difficulties in conducting house-to-house vaccination campaigns.

These access and operational hurdles leave thousands of children in the province at the risk of exposure to poliovirus as a result of missed opportunities for vaccination, according to health authorities.

Owing to the aforementioned issues, children in UC Bakhmal Ahmad Zai (Lakki Marwat) missed out on vaccination opportunities during the February and April 2025 immunisation campaigns, resulting in immunity gaps.

In UC Saintanga, Tehsil Wazir (Bannu), no comprehensive campaign has been carried out since October 2023. Moreover, a shortage of female vaccinators and gaps in monitoring have also widened the immunity gaps.

The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme (PPEP) is actively engaging with all stakeholders to address operational and access challenges and to enhance the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns in these high-risk areas.

An intensified vaccination schedule is being implemented to interrupt virus transmission and protect children from lifelong paralysis.

The third nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2025 is set to begin on May 26, targeting over 45.4 million children under five across 159 districts, including high-risk areas in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Polio is a highly infectious and debilitating disease with no cure. The only way to protect children is through repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine for all children under five, as well as the timely completion of all vaccines offered as part of the essential immunisation schedule.

The PPEP is calling on all parents to ensure their children do not miss out on any opportunity to receive polio drops. Every dose of polio vaccine provides an opportunity to further strengthen immunity and protection against lifelong paralysis.

With polio still a threat, community support is vital — no child should be missed.