N Waziristan polio case takes tally to 14

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, has confirmed a polio case from North Waziristan district, South Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. A 19-month-old boy from Union Council Miranshah-3 has been identified as the eighth polio case from K-P this year.

With this latest detection, the total number of polio cases reported in Pakistan in 2025 has risen to 14 - including eight from K-P, four from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Polio is a highly infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. The only effective protection is through repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) for every child under five during each campaign, along with timely completion of all essential immunizations.

While nationwide efforts to eradicate polio continue to improve the quality of vaccination campaigns, the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remain a major concern due to limited access and challenges in conducting house-to-house vaccination. These obstacles result in missed opportunities, leaving thousands of children unvaccinated and vulnerable to poliovirus.

A special vaccination activity was conducted in six union councils of Bannu from June 23 to 28, during which 17,485 children received the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV). A similar targeted vaccination drive is being planned in 11 union councils of North Waziristan.

Additionally, preparations are underway for a large-scale special vaccination campaign in South K-P, scheduled for August.

Recent polio cases in South K-P are a stark reminder that children missed during vaccination campaigns remain at serious risk. While the programme is making every effort to reach every child, the role of parents is critical.