ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has confirmed two new cases of poliovirus in the southern province of Sindh, bringing the nationwide total this year to 29, the National Institute of Health (NIH) said on Monday.
The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the NIH said the infections were detected in two girls — one from Badin and another from Thatta — as authorities continue efforts to stamp out the crippling disease.
“With these two cases, both girls, the total number of polio cases in Pakistan in 2025 has reached 29 – including 18 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, nine from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan,” the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) said in a statement.
Vaccination Campaign
The next nationwide vaccination campaign is scheduled for October 13–19 and aims to reach 45.4 million children under the age of five.
The case count adds to mounting concerns after infections surged to 74 in 2024, reversing a historic low of just six in 2023.
Polio is still endemic in Pakistan, meaning it has not been fully eradicated, although significant progress has been made. The virus continues to pose a challenge due to factors like security concerns, logistical difficulties, socioeconomic factors, and resistance to vaccination, which includes misconceptions and outright refusals.
Public health experts say the problem extends beyond confirmed cases. Environmental surveillance shows the virus remains entrenched, with samples testing positive in sewage systems across Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi and other major cities. Officials warn the continued detection highlights gaps in vaccination coverage and the difficulty of breaking transmission chains.
