The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed a new polio case in District Thatta, Sindh. This marks the fourth case in Sindh and the sixth in Pakistan in 2025, according to the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme.
Polio remains a debilitating disease that causes paralysis and has no cure. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the virus, especially for children under five. Health authorities urge parents to complete the full vaccination schedule to build strong immunity, particularly in high-risk regions like Sindh.
In 2024, Pakistan reported 74 polio cases. Balochistan had the highest count with 27 cases, followed by Sindh with 23. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa reported 22 cases, while Punjab and Islamabad recorded one case each.
The Polio Programme launched a nationwide vaccination drive earlier this month, reaching over 45 million children. A targeted campaign in Quetta and Karachi from February 20 to 28 vaccinated 900,000 children with both injectable and oral polio vaccines for extra protection.
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To prevent cross-border transmission, health teams vaccinated over 600,000 children in 104 union councils near Afghanistan and in Afghan refugee-hosting areas. These efforts align with the Big Catch-Up initiative, which aims to protect children from 12 preventable diseases.
Saudi Arabia also reaffirmed its $500 million commitment to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to help eradicate wild polio and control vaccine-derived outbreaks in Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to the WHO.
Authorities continue urging parents to seize every vaccination opportunity, stressing that each dose brings Pakistan closer to ending polio for good.
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