Muhammad Kaleem Two new cases of poliovirus have been confirmed in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, raising Pakistan’s total count for 2025 to 23, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The cases involve a 16-month-old girl from Tank district and a 24-month-old girl from North Waziristan.
Pakistan remains one of the last two countries in the world, along with Afghanistan, where polio is still endemic. Despite progress through vaccination campaigns, issues such as security challenges, vaccine refusals, and misinformation continue to hinder eradication efforts. Most of this year’s cases—15 out of 23—have been reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Health officials have announced a nationwide vaccination campaign starting September 1, with a special drive in southern KP beginning September 15. The campaign aims to immunize over 28 million children under five. Authorities urged parents to ensure their children receive the oral polio vaccine, stressing that immunization is the only reliable protection against this incurable and disabling disease.
