Despite ongoing nationwide vaccination campaigns, Pakistan has reported three more cases of polio, bringing the total number of infections in 2025 to 17. The new cases were confirmed on Sunday by the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), highlighting the persistent threat the virus poses to unvaccinated children.

The latest infections were detected in Lakki Marwat and North Waziristan in South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Umerkot in Sindh. According to the Regional Reference Laboratory at the National Institute of Health in Islamabad, the patients include a 15-month-old girl from Lakki Marwat, a six-month-old girl from North Waziristan, and a five-year-old boy from Umerkot.

With these additions, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has now reported 10 polio cases this year — the highest among all provinces — followed by five in Sindh, and one each in Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Polio, a highly infectious virus that mainly affects children under the age of five, can lead to irreversible paralysis. While there is no cure, health experts emphasize that the disease is entirely preventable through repeated doses of oral polio vaccines (OPV) and routine immunizations.

Pakistan is one of only two countries where polio remains endemic, alongside Afghanistan. Although the country had drastically reduced its case count over the years — from tens of thousands in the early 1990s to single digits by 2018 — a worrying resurgence has occurred in recent times. After reporting just one case in 2021 and six in 2023, Pakistan saw 74 cases in 2024, raising alarms about a potential backslide in eradication efforts.

The NEOC has attributed the new cases to gaps in immunization, particularly in remote or conflict-prone areas where access and vaccine hesitancy remain critical issues. “Every missed child is a risk not just to themselves but to others as well,” the NEOC warned.

In response, a new anti-polio vaccination drive is underway, targeting high-risk union councils near the Afghanistan border from July 21 to 27. A parallel campaign involving both the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) and OPV began on July 21 in Chaman, Balochistan, and will expand to six additional districts from July 28.

Health authorities are urging parents to cooperate fully with vaccination teams and ensure their children receive all recommended doses. The NEOC stressed that community involvement remains essential: “Reject misinformation, support vaccinators, and help protect our children from a preventable disease.”

With global eradication still within reach, experts say that sustained public support, consistent immunization, and countering vaccine myths are more important now than ever.