The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) has confirmed the detection of the second wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) case of the year.
The latest case has been reported from Sindh’s Badin district, following the first case of 2025, which emerged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan.
In 2024, Pakistan recorded 74 polio cases, with Balochistan reporting 27, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 22, Sindh 23, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
Polio is a highly contagious disease that leads to paralysis and has no cure. Health experts emphasize the importance of multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completing the routine immunization schedule for all children under five to ensure strong immunity.
To combat the virus, the Pakistan Polio Programme conducts multiple mass vaccination drives annually. The Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) also provides free vaccinations against 12 childhood diseases at health facilities nationwide.
The first nationwide polio campaign of 2025, held from February 3 to 9, successfully administered polio drops to over 45 million children, achieving 99% of the target coverage.
Health officials reaffirm their commitment to eradicating polio, urging parents to ensure their children receive timely vaccinations to protect them from the devastating effects of the virus.
