Pakistan’s National Emergency Operation Centre confirmed the country’s first polio case of 2025 on Wednesday, reported from Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In 2024, DI Khan accounted for 11 of the 73 polio cases confirmed nationwide. To address this alarming rise in cases, the first nationwide vaccination campaign of the year will kick off on February 3, focusing on the affected regions, including DI Khan.
Balochistan was the most severely impacted province in 2024, with 27 confirmed cases, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, each reporting 22 cases. Islamabad and Punjab each recorded one case.
The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, in partnership with the Expanded Program on Immunisation (EPI), continues to conduct nationwide mass vaccination efforts. The EPI also offers free immunisation services for 12 childhood diseases at health facilities across the country.
Health authorities are urging parents to ensure that all children under five receive the polio vaccine during the campaign.
Pakistan, alongside Afghanistan, remains one of the only two polio-endemic countries globally. Despite significant reductions in annual cases in recent years, the recent uptick has raised concerns. The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme emphasizes that polio is a paralyzing disease with no cure, and completing routine vaccinations for all children under five provides them with vital immunity against the disease.
