Polio Resurgence in Pakistan: Second Case of 2025 Confirmed

Pakistan confirms its second polio case of 2025 in the Sindh region, following the first case in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Despite last year's significant number of cases, a recent vaccination campaign successfully reached 99% of its target, immunizing over 45 million children against the crippling disease.

Pakistan has confirmed a second polio case for the year 2025, marking another challenge in the country's ongoing battle against the disease. The National Institutes of Health's Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication confirmed the latest case in Sindh's Badin district, while the first case was reported in Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In 2024, Pakistan faced an alarming 74 polio cases, distributed across regions with Punjab and Islamabad each reporting one case, Balochistan 27, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 22, and Sindh 23. Polio remains a highly infectious virus that causes paralysis and can be fatal, but vaccination has proven effective in its prevention. A complete vaccination schedule for children under five is crucial to achieving immunity.

Authorities noted the completion of the first nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2025, achieving 99% of its target by vaccinating over 45 million children. Significantly, environmental samples confirmed the presence of wild poliovirus type 1 across 21 districts, including major areas like Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi East. Since 2018, a resurgence has been noted with added challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting adaptive strategies to protect frontline workers and focus efforts on high-risk zones.