Two New Polio Cases Confirmed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

KP – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk) – Pakistan has confirmed two new cases of polio, both in the southern part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). This brings the country’s total number of cases for 2025 to 23. The news was announced on Tuesday by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Polio remains a persistent health threat in only two countries worldwide: Pakistan and Afghanistan. Efforts to eliminate the virus face difficulties, including safety concerns for health workers, communities hesitating to get the vaccine, and the spread of false information.

The two latest patients are both young girls. One is a 16-month-old from the Tank district, and the other is a 24-month-old from North Waziristan.

With these new infections, the breakdown of Pakistan’s 23 cases is now:

• 15 cases from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)

• 6 cases from Sindh

• 1 case from Punjab

• 1 case from Gilgit-Baltistan

Polio is a dangerous disease that can cause permanent paralysis. There is no cure. The best and only protection is the oral polio vaccine (OPV). Health officials stress that children under five need to receive the vaccine in every campaign and complete all their routine immunizations. The continued spread in southern KP is a major concern.

Children living in hard-to-reach areas or in communities with low vaccination rates are most at risk. National and provincial emergency teams are working to improve the quality of vaccination campaigns.

A new nationwide vaccination drive is planned for the lower-risk season. The first campaign will run from September 1st to 7th. In southern KP, a special campaign will start on September 15th. The goal is to vaccinate over 28 million children across the country.

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The campaign aims to reach every child in high-risk districts to quickly build their immunity and close protection gaps. Parents and caregivers are urged to make sure their children get the vaccine during these drives.

Eradicating polio is a team effort. While health workers deliver the vaccines, families play the most important role. Parents must ensure their children get every dose of the vaccine. Communities can help by supporting vaccinators, sharing correct information, and encouraging their neighbors to vaccinate.

Last week, two other cases were reported in Kohistan, KP, and Badin, Sindh. Recent environmental sampling also found the poliovirus in sewage water across 36% of 87 districts tested in July, showing the virus is still circulating widely.