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Pakistan Reports Two New Polio Cases, Total Rises to Three in 2025

Two new polio cases have been reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bringing Pakistan's 2025 total to three. The cases were confirmed by the WHO-accredited laboratory at the National Institute of Health. Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries with endemic polio, facing challenges including attacks on vaccination teams and vaccine refusals. Over 233,000 children were missed due to security issues, community boycotts, and snow-bound areas.

Key Points: Pakistan Polio Cases Rise to Three in 2025 Amid Challenges

  • Two new polio cases reported in Bannu and North Waziristan
  • Pakistan total reaches three in 2025
  • Attacks on polio workers and security escorts continue
  • 233,000 children missed due to security, boycotts, and snow
  • Karachi accounts for 58% of national vaccine refusals
2 min read

Two more cases reported as Pakistan struggles to eradicate polio

Pakistan reports two new polio cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, raising 2025 total to three. Attacks on workers, vaccine refusals, and security issues hinder eradication.

"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 - Official of Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme"

Islamabad, May 1

Two new polio cases have been reported from Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bringing the total number of reported cases in the country since the start of this year to three, local media reported on Friday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an official of the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, told leading Pakistani daily Dawn that two new cases of wild poliovirus - one in Bannu and another in North Waziristan - were confirmed by the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication (NEOC).

"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 official told the newspaper.

This has raised the total tally of reported Polio cases in Pakistan this year to three as the first case was confirmed in Sujawl district of Sindh province.

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

Dawn reported last month that police escorts have been killed and polio workers abducted in attacks in KP's Hangu and Bannu, besides parts of Balochistan.

The attacks on vaccination teams took place during the nationwide immunisation drive to administer polio drops.

In March, it was reported that as many as 233,000 children have been reported as leftovers due to security constraints, community boycotts, and snow-bound areas. An official mentioned that the total leftovers included 184,000 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and around 50,000 children remained unreachable in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB) due to snow-bound regions and non-conduct of campaigns.

Vaccine refusals by parents remain another major challenge. Karachi alone accounted for about 31,000 refusals, nearly 58 per cent of the national total.

This has raised questions about the role of misinformation, weak planning, poor local governance and lack of political focus in the country's largest city.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has imposed polio-related travel restrictions on Pakistan since 2014, which required all international travellers to carry a polio vaccination certificate.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Sneha F
The fact that vaccine refusals in Karachi alone account for 58% of national total is alarming. This is not just a security issue but also a trust deficit. We in India also faced vaccine hesitancy, but our ASHA workers and local leaders worked tirelessly to counter myths. Pakistan must prioritize community outreach and involve religious leaders to build confidence.
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Matthew K
As someone who works in global health, I'm deeply concerned. Polio is a preventable disease, yet children continue to suffer due to conflict, misinformation, and weak infrastructure. The attacks on vaccinators are unacceptable. This is a reminder that diseases don't respect borders - global cooperation is essential to eradicate polio completely.
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Rohit L
India's polio eradication story is a testament to what can be achieved with determination. We went from being the world's polio epicenter to being certified polio-free. Pakistan has no excuse - they have the vaccine, the technology, and the WHO support. The problem is clearly lack of political will and security for health workers. 😔
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Rebecca D
It's sad to see children being left vulnerable due to snow-bound areas and security constraints. But I also question the planning - 233,000 children unreachable? That's a massive gap. Pakistan needs to invest in mobile health teams, cold chain logistics, and community-based vaccination strategies. Every child deserves protection.
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Kavya N
Respectfully, this is a failure of governance. When India faced similar challenges, we didn't give up. We used innovative methods like tracking every child, involving local celebrities, and even offering incentives. Pakistan's approach seems reactive rather than

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