• The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, has confirmed a new polio case from District Tank in Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.  
  • The latest polio case involves a 20-month-old girl from Union Council Ping A, District Tank. This is the 14th Polio case from Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this year. With this detection, the total number of polio cases in Pakistan in 2025 has reached 24 – including 16 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, six from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan.   
  • Polio is a highly infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. The only effective protection is through repeated doses of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) for every child under five during each campaign, alongside timely completion of all routine immunizations.  
  • Despite notable progress, the persistent detection of polio cases, particularly in Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, remains a matter of concern. This highlights that children living in hard-to-access areas and those with low vaccine acceptance continue to be at risk. However, the National and Provincial Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs) are taking all possible measures to ensure the implementation of high-quality vaccination campaigns. 
  • In preparation for the September Sub-National Polio vaccination campaign, the National and Provincial Task Force meetings were held last week to review the current polio situation and assess campaign preparedness. These meetings were intended to ensure coordinated efforts, enhance operational readiness, and facilitate the effective implementation of high-quality immunization activities across all regions. A comprehensive strategic Roadmap for Polio eradication in Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been developed and finalized. The plan incorporates microplanning innovations, gap analyses, and targeted strategies and interventions to address persistent challenges. 
  • To interrupt poliovirus transmission, the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication has developed a robust vaccination campaign schedule for the upcoming low transmission season, with the first campaign starting today. In southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the campaign will be carried out from September 15 - 18.  More than 28 million children under the age of five will receive polio drops in this door-to-door vaccination campaign.  
  • The objective is to ensure that every child in these districts receives the polio vaccine, as part of ongoing efforts to rapidly strengthen immunity. Parents and caregivers are strongly encouraged to have their children vaccinated during this and all subsequent polio campaigns, as vaccination remains the sole effective measure to protect children against lifelong disability. 
  • Polio eradication is a collective responsibility. While frontline health workers continue to provide essential vaccines to children, parents and caregivers play a crucial role by ensuring their children receive all recommended doses of the polio vaccine and complete their routine immunizations.   
  • Communities and the media can protect children’s health by actively supporting vaccination efforts, addressing misinformation, and encouraging others to vaccinate, ensuring that no child is left unvaccinated. 
  • For more information, contact the Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline at 1166 or the Polio Helpline via WhatsApp at 0346-7776546.