ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reported another polio case from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), raising the total number of cases for the ongoing year to 18.
According to an official from the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), a new case has been confirmed from Tank district of KP.
“A 10-month-old boy from Union Council Mullazai in District Tank has been confirmed as the 11th polio case from the province this year, bringing the total number of polio cases in Pakistan in 2025 to 18,” he said.
“The continued detection of polio cases underscores the persistent threat to children, particularly in areas with low vaccine acceptance. It is crucial for communities to understand that poliovirus can re-emerge wherever immunity gaps persist. Every unvaccinated child remains vulnerable and can also contribute to the spread of the virus,” he said.
Out of the 18 cases, 11 have been reported from KP, five from Sindh and one each has been reported from Punjab and Gilgit Baltistan.
Published in Dawn, August 2nd, 2025