Pakistan Reports First Wild Poliovirus Case of Year in DI Khan
News Desk
Islamabad: The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed Pakistan’s first wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) case of 2025.
On Wednesday, the laboratory reported the detection of a polio case in DI Khan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, with the onset of paralysis dated January 7, 2025. This marks the first WPV1 case of the year.
DI Khan, a district in South Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, recorded 11 polio cases in 2024. Nationwide, 73 polio cases were reported last year, with 27 in Balochistan, 22 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 22 in Sindh, and one case each in Punjab and Islamabad.
Polio, a paralyzing and incurable disease, can only be prevented through vaccination. To protect children under five years of age, multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of routine immunizations are critical for building strong immunity.
The Pakistan Polio Program conducts several mass vaccination campaigns annually, delivering vaccines directly to children’s doorsteps.
Additionally, the Expanded Program on Immunization offers free vaccinations against 12 childhood diseases at healthcare facilities nationwide.
The first nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2025 is scheduled for February 3–9. Parents are strongly urged to ensure all children under five years are vaccinated to safeguard them against this debilitating disease.
