Rising polio tally

The National Institutes of Health has confirmed two additional poliovirus cases in Pakistan, raising the national tally in 2025 to 21. One confirmed case emerged in Lower Kohistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and another in Badin, Sindh - both regions categorically affected by the poliovirus where routine immunisation efforts remain uneven and community resistance persists.

During the same time period in 2024, Pakistan had recorded a total of 16 poliovirus cases. This overall spike marks a troubling resurgence of the virus following years of significant progress. The numbers are more troubling when put into an even wider perspective - in 2023, Pakistan recorded a record-low of just six cases. These figures illustrate how deeply the poliovirus exploits any immunity gaps, particularly where misinformation, vaccine hesitancy or barriers to accessibility remain.

Lower Kohistan and Badin both reflect deeper challenges standing in the way of the eradication of poliovirus. These are regions with limited healthcare facilities, higher rates of vaccine hesitancy due to religious misinformation and social myths, and at times militant resistance to campaign workers which adds on to parents' hesitancy in allowing their children to be vaccinated.

Furthermore, there are glaring disparities across provinces in terms of cases that signal a faltering system. This year, 13 cases have occurred in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, six in Sindh, and one each in Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan. The accumulation of polio cases in certain regions demands a tailored approach, such as the upcoming campaign in southern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in September, which must prioritise both door-to-door vaccination and community engagement.

Eradicating polio in Pakistan hinges not only on vaccine delivery and immunisation efforts, but also on sustained political will, public education and unwavering support for frontline healthcare workers who remain under threat. Without such comprehensive measures, Pakistan risks reversing progress that took decades to achieve.