Islamabad – Pakistan has reported its third polio case of 2025, raising fresh concerns over the country’s efforts to eradicate the disease. According to the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication, the latest case has been confirmed in Larkana, Sindh, where a 54-month-old girl tested positive for wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1).
This marks the second polio case in Sindh this year, while the third case was detected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The increasing number of cases underscores the persistent challenge Pakistan faces in eliminating polio, a disease that has been largely eradicated worldwide.
Pakistan’s Polio Situation and Ongoing Vaccination Efforts
Pakistan continues to struggle with polio outbreaks, reporting 74 cases in 2024. The breakdown of last year’s cases includes:
- 27 cases in Balochistan
- 23 cases in Sindh
- 22 cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- 1 case each in Punjab and Islamabad
The government has ramped up vaccination efforts to curb the spread of the virus. Earlier this month, the country launched its first nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2025. Additionally, a fractional IPV-OPV (injectable polio vaccine) campaign was conducted in Quetta and Karachi on February 20 and 22, respectively, aiming to immunize around one million children.
Further, another polio vaccination drive is set to take place from February 24 to 28 in 104 union councils near Afghanistan’s border and in areas housing Afghan refugee camps. This campaign aims to reach approximately 666,000 children and strengthen immunity in high-risk regions.
Challenges in Polio Eradication and Public Resistance
Despite extensive vaccination campaigns, resistance to polio immunization remains a major challenge. On February 2, local authorities in Quetta arrested five individuals who refused to allow their children to be vaccinated, according to ARY News. The Quetta administration, along with polio teams, conducted outreach efforts in Sariab, where 15 children from hesitant families received polio drops after persuasion. However, five parents who refused vaccination despite repeated warnings were taken into custody.
Pakistan’s struggle against polio has been compounded by misinformation, vaccine hesitancy, and access challenges in remote areas. In 2024 alone, the country reported 73 polio cases and over 480 polio-positive sewage samples, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive and sustained vaccination campaigns.
Understanding Polio: Symptoms and Prevention
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), polio is a highly infectious viral disease that spreads primarily through contaminated water, food, or direct contact. The virus multiplies in the intestine and can lead to severe complications, including irreversible paralysis.
Key symptoms of polio include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Vomiting
- Stiffness in the neck
- Pain in the limbs
Severe Cases:
- 1 in 200 infections leads to permanent paralysis (mostly in the legs).
- 5-10% of paralyzed patients die when the virus affects breathing muscles.
The Role of Vaccination in Polio Prevention
Polio has no cure—it can only be prevented through vaccination. The oral polio vaccine (OPV) and inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) provide lifelong protection when administered multiple times.
Children under five years old are most vulnerable to polio, but any unvaccinated individual, regardless of age, can contract the disease. Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts depend on continued immunization, public awareness, and cooperation from communities to eliminate the virus once and for all.
With intensified vaccination campaigns, government action, and increased public participation, Pakistan aims to move closer to a polio-free future.
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