Health authorities in Pakistan have confirmed a new case of wild poliovirus in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, marking the first instance of the virus reported from the region. The case, verified by the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), brings the total number of wild poliovirus cases in the country to eleven so far in 2025.
Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only two countries in the world where polio is still endemic. The announcement comes shortly after the conclusion of Pakistan’s third nationwide polio vaccination campaign of the year, which began on 26 May and ended on Sunday. The campaign successfully reached over 45 million children under the age of five across 159 districts, including many that are considered high-risk for the virus.
Polio is a highly infectious viral disease with no cure. It can cause irreversible paralysis, particularly in young children. Health experts continue to stress that repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine are the only effective way to protect children against the disease.
Health officials have renewed calls for parents and caregivers to ensure their children receive all scheduled vaccinations. “This case is a stark reminder that polio remains a threat,” said an official from Pakistan’s polio eradication programme. “No child should be left behind.” Authorities remain focused on community engagement to ensure full immunisation coverage and prevent any resurgence of the virus.
The virus remains a serious concern in Pakistan, which recorded 74 cases in 2024 alone. Last week, a police constable was martyred and another officer injured when unidentified assailants opened fire on a polio vaccination team in Nushki, Balochistan. The team was carrying out routine immunisation activities when the attack occurred.
Polio teams in Pakistan have repeatedly faced violence, particularly in remote or conflict-affected regions. In another recent incident, two polio workers were kidnapped in the Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting frontline health workers and continuing the fight to eradicate polio from the country.
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