Pakistan confirms two more polio cases in KP, taking 2025 tally to three

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reported two new polio cases on Friday from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, raising the total number of cases recorded so far this year to three.

An official of the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication had confirmed two fresh cases of wild poliovirus, one in Bannu and the other in North Waziristan.

According to the official, continued access constraints in these areas are helping the virus spread and remain a threat to children’s health and well-being. “The two new cases were reported through the poliovirus surveillance network and confirmed by the WHO-accredited Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH).”

The first polio case of the year had earlier been reported from Sindh. With the latest detections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the national count for the current year has now reached three.

The same official said the recent sharp rise in temperatures suggested that the period of high virus transmission could begin earlier than usual this year. “Usually, the high transmission season starts by the end of May and ends in September,”

The poliovirus is generally less active in colder conditions and becomes more active as temperatures rise. For that reason, summer is regarded as the high transmission season.

Vaccination remains key protection

Polio is a paralysing disease for which there is no cure. Children under the age of five need multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine, along with completion of the routine immunisation schedule, to build strong protection against the disease.

The Pakistan Polio Programme carries out several mass vaccination campaigns each year, taking vaccines directly to children at their homes.

Pakistan among last two polio-endemic countries

Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries in the world where polio cases are still being reported.

The World Health Organization has maintained polio-related travel restrictions on Pakistan since 2014. Under these requirements, all international travellers from the country must carry a polio vaccination certificate.

The latest cases underline the continued challenge facing eradication efforts, particularly in areas where access remains difficult and transmission risks persist.