ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reported another case of polio, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the country this year to 19.
The National Institute of Health’s Regional Reference Laboratory confirmed that the virus was detected in a five-month-old child from Suleman Khel Union Council in Lakki Marwat district.
With this new case, the number of polio cases reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2025 has risen to 12 — the highest among all provinces in the country.
Health officials have expressed concern over the continued presence of the virus, highlighting the need for sustained vaccination campaigns and improved outreach in high-risk areas.
According to health experts, insecurity, misinformation, and vaccine refusal remain major hurdles in eradicating polio from Pakistan. Remote and conflict-affected districts are particularly vulnerable, as vaccination teams often face logistical and safety challenges.
Pakistan and Afghanistan remain only two countries in the world where polio is still endemic. The government has reiterated its commitment to ending the virus by strengthening immunization drives and ensuring every child receives the required doses of the oral polio vaccine.
