PESHAWAR – The National Institute of Health’s (NIH) has confirmed another polio case in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district wherever a 10-month-old child tested positive for wild poliovirus.
This latest case brings the total number of polio cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2025 to 11, including three cases in Bannu, two each in Tank, Lakki Marwat, and North Waziristan, and one each in Torghar and Dera Ismail Khan.
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With this confirmation, Pakistan’s total polio case count for the year has reached 18. Among them, 11 are from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, five from Sindh, and one case each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Misinformation, poor access, and low vaccine acceptance continue to hinder eradication efforts. Health authorities are concerned about the concentration of polio cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in southern districts.
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Emergency teams have launched targeted vaccination drives and contact tracing operations in affected areas. Officials are also working with community leaders to address public hesitancy.
Pakistan remains one of only two countries where polio remains endemic. The Ministry of National Health Services has reiterated its commitment to eradicating the virus.
Officials are urging parents to ensure all children under five receive oral polio vaccine doses. Consistent vaccination, public awareness, and local cooperation remain essential in reducing polio cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and across the country.
