Health authorities in Pakistan have confirmed a new case of wild poliovirus in the Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, marking the first instance of the virus reported from the region.
The case, verified by the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), is the eleventh confirmed case of wild poliovirus in the country so far in 2025.
Afghanistan and Pakistan remain the only two countries in the world where polio is still endemic.
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The announcement came shortly after the conclusion of Pakistan’s third nationwide polio vaccination campaign of the year, which began on 26 May and ended on Sunday.
The campaign reached over 45 million children under the age of five across 159 districts, including many considered high-risk for the virus.
Polio is a highly infectious viral disease with no cure. It can cause irreversible paralysis, particularly in young children. Health experts stress that repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine are the only effective way to protect children against the disease.
Health officials have renewed calls for parents and caregivers to ensure their children do not miss any immunisation opportunities. Every dose administered, they say, helps build stronger immunity and safeguards children from the lifelong consequences of polio.
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The virus remains a threat in Pakistan, which registered 74 cases in 2024 alone.
“This case is a stark reminder that polio remains a threat,” said an official from Pakistan’s polio eradication programme. “No child should be left behind.”
Authorities continue to rely on community engagement to ensure full coverage and prevent any resurgence of the virus.
Last week, a police constable was martyred and another officer injured when unidentified assailants opened fire on a polio vaccination team in Nushki, Balochistan, on Tuesday. The team was conducting routine immunisation work when the attack occurred.
Polio teams in Pakistan have frequently been targeted in deadly attacks, particularly in remote or conflict-affected areas.
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President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the incident, reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting health workers and continuing the fight against polio.
