Pakistan reports third polio case of 2025

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reported the third polio case of 2025 as confirmed by the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication.

The new polio case was reported from Sindh’s District Larkana and was verified by the lab. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan district reported the year’s first case, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication.

There were 74 polio cases recorded in 2024, the previous year. Of them, one each came from Punjab and Islamabad, while 27 came from Balochistan, 22 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 23 from Sindh.

According to authorities, the first nationwide polio campaign of 2025 was successfully concluded, with 99% of the targets achieved across the country.

The campaign was conducted from February 3 to 9, 2025. During this campaign, more than 45 million children were administered the polio vaccine.

In every campaign, the program ensures that children under five years receive polio drops, to protect them from the crippling effects of the polio virus.

It is important to note here that Quetta administration arrested five individuals who refused to allow their children to be vaccinated against polio.

Assistant Commissioner Maria Shamooun, accompanied by a polio team, visited various areas of Sariab and 15 children of reluctant parents were administered the polio vaccine after persuasion, according to district administration.

Despite repeated warnings, five parents who continued to refuse vaccination were taken into custody.