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Surge in Polio Cases Challenges Pakistan’s Eradication Efforts
ISLAMABAD—Pakistan’s fight against polio has suffered a significant setback with three new cases confirmed by the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad, bringing the country’s 2025 running total to 17. Pakistan is now one of only two nations worldwide, alongside Afghanistan, where polio remains endemic.
Latest Detected Cases
The latest cases, confirmed on July 27, included:
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A 15-month-old girl from Takhtikhel, Lakki Marwat district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)
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A six-month-old girl from Mir Ali, North Waziristan, KP
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A five-year-old boy from Chajro, Umerkot district, Sindh
Officials warned that 10 of this year’s cases have originated from the KP region, with five from Sindh, and one each in Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Health Authorities Respond
A spokesperson for the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme (PPEP) said, “Despite substantial progress, the persistence of polio cases in these vulnerable regions is a stark reminder of the challenges we still face. Vaccine acceptance and access, especially in high-risk districts, remain crucial.”
He continued, “Every unvaccinated child is at risk and can also pose a risk to others”.
A Preventable Disease Still Endemic
Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a highly infectious disease with the potential to cause lifelong paralysis. There is no cure, but repeated vaccine doses offer effective protection for children under five. The resurgence comes amid ongoing nationwide immunization campaigns.
Urgent Appeal to Parents and Communities
Health officials, international organizations, and volunteers are urging parents to ensure their children are vaccinated as planned. “It is crucial for communities to understand that polio can resurface wherever immunity gaps exist,” warns the Polio Eradication Programme.
The government continues to run targeted vaccination drives, particularly in southern KP and high-risk urban neighborhoods, where refusal rates and misinformation undermine progress.
The Road Ahead
Pakistan’s efforts to eradicate polio are supported by global agencies, including the WHO, UNICEF, and GPEI. Still, security challenges, vaccine hesitancy, and misinformation fuel sporadic outbreaks. Health leaders are calling for renewed cooperation: “Only with community trust and widespread vaccine uptake can we finally defeat polio,” stresses a PPEP official.