The national polio number is increased to 18 with new case

• The latter cases mark the eleventh confirmation of KP polio this year.
• NEOC to carry out three more campaigns between August and December.
  
• Special design meeting at South KP on August 2-3.

Pakistan’s national number went up to 18 for 2025 on Friday, as a new case of polio was confirmed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Regional Reporting Laboratory for the Elimination of Poliolelitis at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of the case in the tanks area.

According to a press release, the case was detected in a 10-month boy by the Mullazai Union Council in the Tank area, marking the eleventh case in KP this year, along with five from Sindh and one of Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan.

The ongoing detection of polio cases highlights the persistent threat to children, especially in areas with low acceptance of a vaccine.

“It is important for communities to understand that polio can reappear wherever the gaps of immunity remains. Every non -vaccinated child remains vulnerable and can also contribute to the spread of the virus,” the press release said.

“Poliolellitis is an extremely infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. The only effective protection is through repetitive doses of the oral polio (OPV) vaccine (OPV) for each child under five during each campaign, together with all the time.

Despite significant improvements in national polio vaccination efforts, the southern areas of KP remain significant concern, release said.

Limited access and operational challenges to conduct home vaccinations in the home in these areas continue to hinder immunization efforts, leaving thousands of children not vaccinated, he added.

Since September 2024, the Pakistan packet has held six high quality campaigns, including four national initiatives, which have reached over 45 million children.

The National Emergency Business Center (NEOC) plans to conduct two more national and a sub -national campaign between August and December this year, along with targeted campaigns in high -risk areas to stop the transmission of the virus and to protect children from illness.

Responding to the ongoing challenges, especially in the southern KP, the prime minister’s focal figure for the elimination of polio and NEOC coordinator recently met with Chief Secretary of the Province in Peshawar.

Their discussions focused on reviewing campaign performance, addressing current challenges and strategy to stop polio transmission in southern high -risk areas of KP, including the tank.

In addition, a special design meeting focused on South KP is scheduled to take place at the Secretary General’s office on August 2-3.