Fresh polio cases emerge in KP as 2025 Pakistan toll rises to 31

• A 5th case of polio has been confirmed from the North Waziristan region.
• Southern KP reports the majority of cases in 2025.
• A nationwide polio campaign is planned for early February.

KARACHI: The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has confirmed a new case of wild poliovirus (WPV1) in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), bringing the total number of polio cases in Pakistan in 2025 to 31.

The National Emergency Operations Center, in a press release, said the virus was detected in a four-month-old baby girl from Union Council Spinwam-2 in North Waziristan.

The child developed symptoms in December and laboratory testing of subsequent samples confirmed WPV1, marking the 5th case reported from North Waziristan in 2025.

Last year, the country reported 20 cases from KP, nine from Sindh and one each from Punjab and Gilgit Baltistan (GB).

Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accounted for more than half of the country’s cases this year, with 17 of the 31 detections reported from the region, according to the official statement.

Officials said ongoing security challenges in areas of southern KP, including North Waziristan, have limited consistent access by vaccination teams, resulting in immunity gaps that continue to leave children vulnerable to the crippling disease.

Health authorities stressed the importance of ensuring that every child is vaccinated during each house-to-house campaign and that they receive full routine vaccination.

The Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) is also implementing complementary measures, particularly in southern KP, including engaging local influencers and offering integrated services such as nutritional support, routine vaccinations and other basic health facilities to improve immunity levels.

Despite an overall decrease in poliovirus detections compared to 2024 — reflecting the impact of high-quality vaccination campaigns conducted in 2025 — virus circulation remains in several high-risk areas. Officials said the continued detections underscore the need for focused and sustained efforts to stop transmission.

Polio is a highly contagious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. Authorities reiterated that repeated doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV) for children under five, along with timely routine immunization, remain the only effective protection.

PEI has stepped up efforts to ensure comprehensive vaccination coverage, particularly in vulnerable areas. The National Task Force endorsed the 2025–26 roadmap, which prioritizes repeated national vaccination efforts and stronger routine immunization systems.

According to the roadmap, the first nationwide polio campaign of 2026 will be held from February 2 to 8 across the country, including southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the aim of vaccinating more than 45 million children under the age of five.

Officials urged parents and caregivers to ensure their children are vaccinated in every campaign, stressing that vaccination is the only reliable protection against lifelong disability.

They also highlighted the role of communities, religious leaders and the media in promoting vaccination, countering misinformation and supporting the goal of a polio-free Pakistan.