• The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, has confirmed a case of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in District North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This is the fifth case reported from North Waziristan in 2025, bringing the total number of polio cases in Pakistan for the past year to 31.
  • Wild poliovirus was detected in a 4-month-old girl from Union Council Spinwam-2 in North Waziristan in southern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The child had onset of symptoms in December, and subsequent samples collected from her were positive for WPV1, the lab reported this week. Therefore, this is the 31st case of 2025. Last year, Pakistan reported 20 cases from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, nine from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan. 
  • Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accounted for more than half of Pakistan’s WPV1 cases in 2025, with 17 of the country’s 31 cases reported from the region. Ongoing security challenges have limited consistent access for polio teams in parts of southern KP, including North Waziristan, resulting in persistent immunity gaps and leaving children vulnerable to this paralytic disease. 
  • It is critical to ensure that every child is reached with the polio vaccine in every house-to-house campaign and have received their full doses of routine immunization. The Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) is also adopting innovative complementary approaches, especially in southern KP, such as involving local influencers in campaigns and providing integrated services like nutrition, routine vaccination and other health services to increase children’s immunity. 
  • While the overall trend shows a decline in positive detections of poliovirus compared to 2024, reflecting the impact of high-quality vaccination campaigns conducted in 2025, virus circulation persists in certain high-risk areas. These detections underscore the continued need for robust, targeted efforts to interrupt transmission. 
  • Polio is a highly contagious 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 the age of five during each vaccination campaign, along with timely completion of routine immunization. 
  • The PEI is intensifying efforts to ensure comprehensive vaccination coverage, particularly in high-risk and vulnerable areas. The National Task Force has endorsed the 2025-26 roadmap, which emphasizes repeated nationwide vaccination campaigns and the strengthening of routine immunization services to interrupt poliovirus transmission. 
  • In line with this roadmap, the first nationwide polio campaign of 2026 will be conducted from 2nd to 8th February across the country, including South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, meant to vaccinate over 45 million children under the age of five for vaccination. 
  • These campaigns are designed to rapidly boost children’s immunity and enhance protection as part of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to eradicate polio. Parents and caregivers are urged to ensure that their children are vaccinated during this and every campaign, as vaccination remains the only reliable protection against lifelong disability. 
  • Polio eradication is a collective responsibility. While our dedicated frontline workers ensure vaccines reach every child, parents and caregivers play a crucial role by making sure their children receive all recommended doses, including routine immunizations. 
  • Communities, religious leaders, and the media also play a vital role in promoting vaccination, countering misinformation, and ensuring that every child in Pakistan is protected. Together, we can achieve a polio-free future for every child in the country. 

    For more information, contact the Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline at 1166 or the Polio Helpline via WhatsApp at 0346-7776546.

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Note for the Editor:

Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by poliovirus mainly affecting children under the age of five years. It invades the nervous system and can cause paralysis or even death. While there is no cure for polio, vaccination is the most effective way to protect children from this disease. Each time a child under the age of five is vaccinated, their protection against the virus is increased. Repeated immunisations have protected millions of children from polio, allowing almost all countries in the world to become polio-free, besides the two endemic countries of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

For further information, please contact: Mr. Syed Farhan Shah, Public Relations Officer, NEOC, +923165011808, syed.farhanshah1990@gmail.com