Has Pakistan confirmed its 12th polio case of 2025?
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Synopsis
Pakistan has confirmed its 12th case of wild poliovirus in 2025. This alarming development highlights ongoing public health challenges. As health authorities ramp up immunisation efforts, the nation faces the urgent task of protecting its children from this preventable disease.
Key Takeaways
- Pakistan confirmed its 12th polio case of 2025.
- The case was detected in a child from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- 12 polio cases have been reported this year.
- Nationwide immunisation campaigns have reached over 45 million children.
- Polio remains a significant public health threat in Pakistan.
Islamabad, June 21 (NationPress) Pakistan has reported its 12th case of wild poliovirus for the year 2025, as confirmed by the Ministry of National Health Services. The virus was identified in a child from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad confirmed the presence of the virus in stool samples from a 33-month-old boy residing in the Union Council Shamsikhel of Bannu district, according to a ministry statement released on Friday.
This incident marks the sixth polio case reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this year. Official statistics indicate that Pakistan has recorded a total of 12 polio cases so far in 2025 — with four from Sindh, one from Punjab, and one from Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Pakistan Polio Eradication Program has undertaken three nationwide immunisation campaigns in February, April, and May, successfully reaching over 45 million children under the age of 5, as stated by the ministry.
Health officials have urged parents and guardians to ensure that all children receive multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine, a crucial defense against this incurable and potentially debilitating disease, as reported by Xinhua.
In the previous year, Pakistan documented a total of 74 polio cases, according to official figures.
The World Health Organization describes polio as a highly contagious viral disease that predominantly affects children under 5. The virus spreads primarily through the faecal-oral route or occasionally via contaminated food and water, multiplying in the intestine, where it can invade the nervous system and possibly lead to paralysis.
In 1988, the World Health Assembly endorsed a resolution aimed at the global eradication of polio, initiating the Global Polio Eradication Initiative led by national governments, WHO, Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, and later joined by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Since 1988, cases of wild poliovirus have decreased by more than 99%, dropping from an estimated 350,000 cases across over 125 endemic countries to just 6 reported cases in 2021. Of the three strains of wild poliovirus (type 1, type 2, and type 3), wild poliovirus type 2 was eradicated in 1999, and type 3 was eliminated in 2020. As of 2022, endemic wild poliovirus type 1 persists only in two countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Point of View
I emphasize that the confirmation of the 12th polio case in Pakistan this year is a serious public health concern. The nation must rally together to enhance vaccination efforts and protect our vulnerable children, ensuring that no child is left unprotected against this preventable disease. Our commitment to eradicating polio must remain unwavering.
NationPress
21/06/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current status of polio in Pakistan?
As of June 2025, Pakistan has confirmed 12 cases of wild poliovirus this year, with the most recent case detected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
How does polio spread?
Polio is primarily spread through the faecal-oral route, usually through contaminated food or water.
What measures are being taken to combat polio in Pakistan?
The Pakistan Polio Eradication Program has conducted multiple nationwide immunisation campaigns and is urging parents to vaccinate their children.
What are the symptoms of polio?
Polio can cause flu-like symptoms, but severe cases lead to paralysis and can be life-threatening.
Is there a cure for polio?
There is no cure for polio; prevention through vaccination is the only effective method to protect against the disease.
