Pakistan health authorities have confirmed a new case of wild poliovirus in the Diammer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, marking the first instance of the virus reported in the region.
The case, verified by the regional reference laboratory for the eradication of polio at the National Institute of Health (NIH), is the eleventh confirmed case of wild polio in the country until now in 2025.
Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only two countries in the world where polio is still endemic.
Learn more: Saudi Arabia engages $ 500 million to end polio in Pakistan, Afghanistan,
The announcement occurred shortly after the conclusion of the third vaccination campaign against the national polio of Pakistan of the year, which began on May 26 and ended on Sunday.
The campaign has reached more than 45 million children under the age of five in 159 districts, many of which are considered high -risk for the virus.
Polio is a very infectious viral disease without remedy. It can cause irreversible paralysis, especially in young children. Health experts point out that repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine are the only effective way to protect children from the disease.
Health officials have renewed calls for parents and caregivers to ensure that their children are not lacking any possibility of vaccination. Each dose administered, they say, helps to build stronger immunity and save children from the life consequences of polio.
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The virus remains a threat to Pakistan, which recorded 74 cases in 2024 only.
“This case is a brutal reminder that polio remains a threat,” said an official of the Pakistan polio eradication program. “No child should be left behind.”
The authorities continue to rely on community commitment to ensure complete coverage and prevent any resurgence of the virus.
Last week, a police officer was martyred and another injured officer when unidentified attackers opened fire in a polio vaccination team in Nushki, Balutchistan on Tuesday. The team was carrying out routine vaccination work when the attack occurred.
Polio teams in Pakistan have often been targeted in fatal attacks, especially in distant areas or affected by conflicts.
Read: Two polio workers were kidnapped in the KP district
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif firmly condemned the incident, reaffirming government’s commitment to protecting health workers and continuing to fight polio.
