Pakistan’s health authorities have confirmed two new cases of wild poliovirus type 1, detected in Sindh’s Kambar and Punjab’s Mandi Bahauddin, bringing the 2025 total to five cases. A laboratory official explained that the case from Sindh marks the third reported instance in the province this year, while the case in Punjab is the first from that region, with prior cases in 2025 identified in Sindh’s Badin and Larkana districts as well as in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In 2024, Pakistan reported a total of 74 polio cases, with the majority recorded in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh, while Punjab and Islamabad each contributed one case. This alarming increase has intensified the country's vaccination efforts, including a nationwide campaign and subsequent fractional IPV-OPV drives conducted in Quetta and Karachi in February, aimed at preventing further spread of the virus.
Local authorities have also taken measures against vaccine hesitancy. In Quetta, for instance, officials detained individuals who resisted vaccinating their children, and after persistent efforts, several reluctant parents ultimately agreed to have their children immunized. Health experts emphasize that although polio is highly infectious and primarily spread through contamination, the disease can be prevented through proper immunization, offering lifelong protection with multiple doses of the available vaccines.
10 Comments
Rotfront
We need better coordination between health authorities and local communities to ensure everyone is reached and informed about the importance of vaccination.
Karamba
We must not give up hope. With dedicated efforts and collaboration, we can still defeat polio in Pakistan.
Matzomaster
The government needs to invest more resources in healthcare, especially in rural areas where access to proper sanitation and vaccination is limited.
Karamba
We can't afford to be complacent about polio. It's time for everyone to work together to eradicate this preventable disease once and for all.
Rotfront
Good work by the health authorities for identifying these new cases quickly. This will help to contain the spread of the virus.
ZmeeLove
It's encouraging to hear that some hesitant parents have changed their minds and agreed to vaccinate their children. Education is key!
Matzomaster
It's important to remember that polio is a highly contagious disease, but it's also completely preventable with proper vaccination.
Leonardo
The fractional IPV-OPV drives in Quetta and Karachi are a step in the right direction, but we need more initiatives like these throughout the country.
Raphael
It's great to see the government stepping up their vaccination efforts with campaigns and drives across different cities.
Michelangelo
We should learn from other countries that have successfully eradicated polio and implement similar strategies in Pakistan.