Pakistan recorded two additional poliovirus infections in Sindh province, pushing the country's 2025 total to 29 cases. The National Institute of Health confirmed that the latest victims were girls from Badin and Thatta districts. The province now accounts for nine of the nation's confirmed cases this year.
Health officials announced plans for a nationwide immunization drive from Oct. 13 through Oct. 19 targeting 45.4 million children under age five. The remaining cases emerged from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 18 infections, Punjab with one case, and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan with one case. Authorities emphasized that parents must ensure children receive complete vaccination series.
The World Health Organization classifies polio as highly contagious among children younger than five years old. Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where wild poliovirus continues to spread naturally. No cure exists for the disease, but vaccination provides lifelong protection when administered multiple times during childhood.
Health officials announced plans for a nationwide immunization drive from Oct. 13 through Oct. 19 targeting 45.4 million children under age five. The remaining cases emerged from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 18 infections, Punjab with one case, and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan with one case. Authorities emphasized that parents must ensure children receive complete vaccination series.
The World Health Organization classifies polio as highly contagious among children younger than five years old. Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where wild poliovirus continues to spread naturally. No cure exists for the disease, but vaccination provides lifelong protection when administered multiple times during childhood.
