GILGIT: Authorities have confirmed the first-ever case of wild poliovirus in Gilgit-Baltistan, indicating the virus’s continued spread in Pakistan.
A 23-month-old child from Diamer district tested positive for poliovirus, according to the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad. This is the 11th confirmed polio case in Pakistan so far in 2025.
Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only countries globally where polio is endemic. The confirmation came soon after Pakistan’s third nationwide polio vaccination campaign this year, conducted from May 26 to June 1, which vaccinated over 45 million children under five across 159 districts, including high-risk areas.
Polio is a highly infectious viral disease with no cure, capable of causing irreversible paralysis in young children. Health experts stress that repeated oral polio vaccine doses are essential to protect children.
Health officials have urged parents to ensure their children receive all immunisation doses, emphasizing that every dose helps build immunity and prevents lifelong disabilities.
Last year, Pakistan recorded 74 polio cases, underscoring ongoing challenges. Attacks on polio vaccination teams persist, including a recent incident in Balochistan where a police constable was killed and another officer injured during immunisation work.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding health workers and eradicating polio.
