ISLAMABAD: The National Institute of Health (NIH) confirmed three new polio cases in the country — two from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and one from Sindh — bringing the total number of cases this year to 17.

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Era­dication at the NIH reorted new cases involving a 15-month-old girl from Union Council Takhti­khel in Lakki Marwat, a 6-month-old girl from Union Council Mir Ali-3 in North Waziristan, and a 5-year-old boy from Union Council Chajro in Umerkot.

“With these new detections, the total number of polio cases in Pakistan in 2025 has risen to 17 — including 10 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, five from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan,” an official at the NIH said.

He stressed the importance of vaccination, saying the only effective protection is through repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine for every child under five during the immunisation campaigns.

“Despite substantial progress in polio eradication efforts, the detection of cases underscores the persistent risk to children, especially in areas where vaccine acceptance rem­ains low,” the official said.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2025