Pakistan Confirms 24th Polio Case of 2025 as Nationwide Vaccination Campaign Begins

Pakistan has reported a new case of wild poliovirus type 1, raising the country’s total to 24 confirmed cases in 2025, according to health authorities on Monday.

The latest infection was detected in a 20-month-old girl from Tank district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, a region that has seen repeated outbreaks in recent years.

In response, a nationwide door-to-door polio vaccination campaign has been launched, targeting over 28 million children under the age of five. Health officials confirmed that in southern KP, the immunization drive will run from September 15 to 18.

Pakistan remains one of only two countries in the world—alongside Afghanistan—where polio is still endemic. Despite repeated efforts, challenges such as vaccine misinformation, regional instability, and logistical barriers continue to hinder eradication efforts.

The government, in coordination with international partners including the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, is ramping up efforts to prevent further spread and achieve complete eradication.