Health authorities in Pakistan have confirmed the first-ever case of wild poliovirus in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, marking the eleventh such case in the country in 2025. The case was verified by the National Institute of Health’s Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication, highlighting the persistent threat of polio in the region.
This announcement came shortly after Pakistan completed its third nationwide polio vaccination campaign this year, reaching over 45 million children under five across 159 districts. Despite these efforts, polio remains endemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the disease causing irreversible paralysis in young children.
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Health experts emphasize the importance of repeated oral polio vaccine doses and urge parents to ensure full immunization for their children. The recent case underlines the urgency of maintaining high vaccination coverage to prevent any resurgence of the virus.
The fight against polio in Pakistan continues amid challenges, including attacks on vaccination teams in conflict-prone areas. Authorities, including President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, have condemned such violence and reaffirmed their commitment to protecting health workers and eradicating polio.
