NIH Confirms Three New Polio Cases, Total Rises to 17 in 2025

News Desk 

Islamabad: The National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, has confirmed three new cases of polio, raising fresh concerns about the country’s ongoing battle against the crippling disease.

According to official sources, the latest cases have been reported from Lakki Marwat and North Waziristan in South Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and from District Umerkot in Sindh.

The confirmed cases include a 15-month-old girl from Union Council Takhtikhel in Lakki Marwat, a six-month-old girl from Union Council Mir Ali-3 in North Waziristan, and a five-year-old boy from Union Council Chajro in Umerkot.

With these detections, the total number of polio cases reported in #Pakistan in 2025 has reached 17. These include 10 cases from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, five from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/rawalpindi-reports-3555-suspected-dengue-cases-in-2025/

Polio is a highly contagious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. The only effective protection is through repeated administration of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) for every child under the age of five, along with timely completion of essential immunizations.

Despite significant progress in eradication efforts, the continued emergence of new cases highlights the persistent threat posed by the poliovirus, particularly in areas with low vaccine acceptance.

Health officials have stressed the importance of closing immunity gaps, warning that unvaccinated children not only remain at risk themselves but also contribute to the spread of the virus in their communities.

A special polio vaccination campaign is currently underway from July 21 to 27 in bordering Union Councils, synchronized with Afghanistan’s sub-national polio drive.

In addition, a fractional IPV-OPV (Inactivated Polio Vaccine–Oral Polio Vaccine) campaign launched in District Chaman on July 21 will expand to six more districts in Balochistan starting July 28.

Authorities have reiterated that polio eradication is a shared responsibility. While frontline health workers continue delivering life-saving vaccines, parents and caregivers must ensure that their children receive every dose.

Communities are urged to support vaccination efforts, counter misinformation, and encourage others to get their children vaccinated to help eliminate polio once and for all.