Pakistan reports first polio case of 2025 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Dubai: The National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) announced on Wednesday that Pakistan’s first polio case of 2025 has been confirmed in the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Despite global efforts to eradicate polio, Pakistan remains one of only two countries, alongside Afghanistan, where the virus is still endemic.

Persistent challenges such as security concerns, vaccine hesitancy and misinformation have hindered progress.

The NEOC confirmed that the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at Islamabad’s National Institutes of Health (NIH) identified the case as wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), according to Dawn.

The onset of the case was dated January 7.

Dera Ismail Khan reported 11 polio cases in 2024. Nationwide, 73 cases were recorded last year, with 27 in Balochistan, 22 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 22 in Sindh, and one each in Punjab and Islamabad, the report said quoting a press release from NEOC.

The NEOC reiterated that polio is a paralysing disease with no cure, stressing the importance of vaccination. “Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completing the routine vaccination schedule for children under five are crucial to building high immunity against this terrible disease,” the statement read.

To combat the virus, the first polio vaccination campaign of the year is scheduled nationwide from February 3 to February 9, 2025. The NEOC urged parents to ensure that all children under five receive their vaccinations to protect them against the virus.

The government expressed optimism about interrupting the virus this year during a session with the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Polio Eradication held in Islamabad. The meeting, attended by representatives from federal and provincial governments, partner organisations, and donors, was described as pivotal for Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts.

Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath, the Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Health, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating polio. He emphasised the dedication of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has declared polio eradication a national priority. The government continues to focus on strengthening routine immunisation and addressing immunity gaps in high-risk areas.

With intensified efforts and coordinated campaigns, Pakistan hopes to make significant strides in its fight against polio in 2025.