Pakistan has confirmed its second case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) by 2025, as reported by the regional reference laboratory for the eradication of polio at the National Institute of Health.
Confirmation, aired on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, wine from the Badin district in Sindh.
This follows the first case of the year, previously reported from the Di Khan district in southern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. In 2024, Pakistan saw 74 confirmed cases of polio, with 27 of Baluchistan, 22 of KP, 23 of Sindh, and one of Punjab and Islamabad.
The polio, a disease that causes paralysis and has no cure, can be prevented by vaccination. The Pakistan Polio Program emphasizes the importance of multiple doses of the polyomyelitis vaccine and the completion of the routine vaccination program for all children under five years.
The government continues to carry out mass vaccination units throughout the year, ensuring that the vaccine reaches children in their homes.
The first national polio campaign of 2025, held from February 3 to 9, successfully reached 99% of its goal, vaccinating more than 45 million children. The program also guarantees that each child under five receives polio falls to protect them from the weakening effects of the virus.
The Expanded Immunization program also provides free vaccines against 12 children’s diseases in health centers throughout the country. Parents are urged to keep their children updated with vaccines to avoid the spread of polyomyelitis and other preventable diseases.
Previously, three out of five environmental samples collected during the recent anti-political campaign positive for the polyomyelitis virus, highlighting the continuous presence of the disease in the district.
In response, health officials have announced a new anti-political campaign in April, with a special approach in vaccinating children from migrant families to stop the propagation of the virus.
