PESHAWAR: Health officials on Wednesday confirmed two new cases of wild poliovirus in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, raising Pakistan’s total count for 2025 to 23 cases.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), the latest cases were detected in Tank district and North Waziristan, both areas identified as high-risk zones due to low immunization coverage. The affected children, aged under five, had not received the full course of polio drops, officials said.
Authorities have once again highlighted southern KP as a persistent hotspot for the crippling virus, citing vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, and security challenges as major obstacles. Despite repeated anti-polio drives, thousands of children remain unvaccinated in remote tribal belts.
To counter the rising threat, the government has announced a nationwide polio campaign starting September 1, targeting millions of children. Health experts warn that unless coverage improves, Pakistan—one of only two countries where polio remains endemic—risks international travel restrictions and setbacks in eradication efforts.
Post a Comment