- fifth polio case confirmed from North Waziristan district.
- Southern KP experiences majority of instances in 2025.
- Nationwide polio marketing campaign scheduled for early February.
KARACHI: The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication on the Nationwide Institute of Well being (NIH) has confirmed a brand new case of untamed poliovirus (WPV1) in North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), taking Pakistan’s complete polio instances in 2025 to 31.
The Nationwide Emergencies Operation Centre, in a press launch, stated that the virus was detected in a four-month-old lady from Union Council Spinwam-2 in North Waziristan.
The kid developed signs in December, and laboratory testing of subsequent samples confirmed WPV1, marking the fifth case reported from North Waziristan in 2025.
Final 12 months, the nation reported 20 instances from KP, 9 from Sindh, and one every from Punjab and Gilgit Baltistan (GB).
Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has accounted for greater than half of the nation’s instances this 12 months, with 17 of the 31 detections reported from the area, based on the official assertion.
Officers stated ongoing safety challenges in components of southern KP, together with North Waziristan, have restricted constant entry for vaccination groups, leading to immunity gaps that proceed to go away kids weak to the paralytic illness.
Well being authorities burdened the significance of guaranteeing that each little one is vaccinated throughout every house-to-house marketing campaign and receives full routine immunisation.
The Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) can also be implementing complementary measures, significantly in southern KP, together with partaking native influencers and providing built-in providers comparable to vitamin help, routine vaccinations and different fundamental well being services to enhance immunity ranges.
Regardless of an general decline in poliovirus detections in comparison with 2024 — reflecting the influence of high-quality vaccination campaigns carried out in 2025 — virus circulation persists in a number of high-risk areas. Officers stated the continued detections underline the necessity for targeted and sustained efforts to interrupt transmission.
Polio is a extremely contagious and incurable illness that may trigger lifelong paralysis. Authorities reiterated that repeated doses of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) for youngsters below 5, together with well timed routine immunisation, stay the one efficient safety.
The PEI has stepped up efforts to make sure complete vaccination protection, significantly in weak areas. The Nationwide Job Pressure has accredited the 2025–26 roadmap, which prioritises repeated nationwide vaccination drives and stronger routine immunisation techniques.
In keeping with the roadmap, the primary nationwide polio marketing campaign of 2026 can be held from February 2 to eight throughout the nation, together with southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the goal of vaccinating greater than 45 million kids below the age of 5.
Officers urged mother and father and caregivers to make sure their kids are vaccinated in each marketing campaign, stressing that immunisation is the one dependable safeguard towards lifelong incapacity.
In addition they highlighted the position of communities, spiritual leaders and the media in selling vaccination, countering misinformation and supporting the purpose of a polio-free Pakistan.
