New Polio Case Confirmed in High-Risk District of KP

News Desk

Peshawar: The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) has confirmed a new polio case from Lakki Marwat district in South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to officials, the latest case involves a five-month-old child from Union Council Sulemankhel.

This marks the 12th case reported from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa this year, bringing the total number of polio cases in Pakistan in 2025 to 19. The recurring detection of cases underscores the persistent threat posed by poliovirus, particularly in areas with low vaccine coverage and acceptance.

Health officials stressed that repeated vaccination is vital to protect every child from the virus. Multiple doses are necessary to build and sustain immunity, and any unvaccinated child remains vulnerable and could contribute to continued transmission.

Despite ongoing challenges, the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) has made significant progress. Since September 2024, six high-quality immunization campaigns—including four nationwide drives—have successfully reached over 45 million children per round.

Looking ahead, the National Emergency Operations Centre plans to conduct two nationwide and one sub-national campaign between September and December 2025, in addition to targeted operations in selected high-risk districts.

The next polio vaccination campaign is set to begin on September 1, with a special focus on high-risk and priority areas such as South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The campaign aims to vaccinate all children under the age of five to quickly boost immunity and close existing protection gaps.

Parents and caregivers are strongly urged to ensure that their children receive the polio vaccine during this critical drive.

Polio eradication, officials emphasized, is a shared responsibility. While frontline polio workers continue to deliver life-saving vaccines, communities must actively support the effort by promoting immunization, countering misinformation, and encouraging timely vaccination to protect children from lifelong paralysis.