Islamabad 6 August: Pakistan has recorded its 19th polio case of the year after a five-month-old infant in Lakki Marwat district, South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, tested positive for the virus.
According to media reports he case was reported from Union Council Sulemankhel and marks the 12th confirmed infection in the province in 2025, according to the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad.
The new detection has renewed concerns in the region, where polio remains a persistent threat to young children despite years of eradication efforts. Officials stressed that repeated vaccination is vital, warning that every unvaccinated child remains vulnerable and could contribute to further transmission.
Polio is a highly contagious and incurable disease that can cause permanent paralysis. The only protection is through repeated oral polio vaccine (OPV) doses during every campaign, along with the timely completion of routine immunisation.
While Pakistan has made significant strides in improving polio vaccination campaigns across the country, southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continue to face challenges. These include restricted access, a shortage of female vaccinators, and operational hurdles in conducting door-to-door campaigns, leaving thousands of children unvaccinated.
Since September 2024, Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) has carried out six high-quality immunisation drives — four of them nationwide — each reaching more than 45 million children.
To sustain momentum, the National Emergency Operations Centre plans to hold two national and one sub-national campaign from September to December 2025. Targeted efforts will also continue in high-risk areas, particularly in South KP.
A high-level meeting chaired by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah was held in Peshawar on August 2 and 3, where district teams from South KP presented tailored plans to tackle polio. Discussions focused on innovative microplanning, identifying gaps, and strengthening strategies to address local challenges.
A consensus roadmap was adopted to align district-level actions with the province’s broader goal of achieving polio-free status.
The next nationwide vaccination drive is scheduled to begin on September 1, with a renewed focus on high-risk regions including South KP. Authorities are urging parents and caregivers to ensure all children under five receive polio drops during the campaign.
Officials have reiterated that eradicating polio is a collective responsibility, requiring coordinated action from health workers, parents, and communities. Public support is essential to counter misinformation, improve coverage, and protect future generations from the threat of lifelong disability.
