ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reported its 12th polio case of 2025, confirmed in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Islamabad announced on Friday.
The latest case involves a 33-month-old boy from Shamsikhel Union Council in Bannu. This marks the sixth polio case reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this year.
Pakistan remains one of only two countries in the world where polio is still endemic, alongside Afghanistan. Although the number of annual cases had declined significantly in recent years, the recent resurgence has raised concerns among health officials.
Polio is a crippling and incurable disease, but routine immunization offers strong protection. Children under the age of five are especially vulnerable if not fully vaccinated.
In 2025 so far, Pakistan has recorded six cases from KP, four from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan.
While the national immunization campaigns have made notable progress, southern KP continues to face significant challenges due to limited access and obstacles to house-to-house vaccination. These barriers leave many children unvaccinated and at risk.
The polio programme noted that three nationwide campaigns conducted in February, April, and May have so far reached over 45 million children, with the help of 400,000 frontline workers, including 225,000 female vaccinators.
Authorities are urging parents to ensure all children under five receive polio drops during every campaign. “Each dose builds immunity and provides lifelong protection,” the statement said. “Community cooperation is vital to eliminating the virus once and for all.”
In 2024, Pakistan reported a total of 74 polio cases, with Balochistan accounting for 27, Sindh 23, KP 22, and one case each from Punjab and Islamabad.
