ISLAMABAD, Friday, April 25, 2025 (WNP): The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) has confirmed a new case of polio in District Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, health authorities reported on Friday.

This marks the third polio case reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the eighth nationwide so far this year, raising fresh concerns about the persistent threat of the virus.

The confirmation comes amid the second nationwide anti-polio campaign of 2025, which began on April 21 and is set to continue until April 27. The campaign aims to vaccinate 45.4 million children under the age of five across the country. Another round of vaccinations is scheduled to take place from May 26 to June 1.

The Polio Eradication Programme has issued an urgent appeal to parents, urging them to ensure that their children receive repeated doses of the polio vaccine to build strong immunity against the crippling disease.

Officials stressed that the ongoing vaccination drive presents a crucial opportunity to protect the next generation from the devastating effects of poliovirus, emphasizing that sustained immunization efforts are key to achieving a polio-free Pakistan.

Over 41 mln children vaccinated

Pakistan’s second nationwide polio immunization campaign of the year has entered its fifth day, continuing uninterrupted until April 27, as health authorities intensify efforts to eliminate the poliovirus.

The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) reported that the synchronized campaign, being conducted in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, is a key component of regional strategies to eradicate the disease.

In the first four days of the drive, more than 41 million children under the age of five across Pakistan have already received oral polio vaccine (OPV) drops. Health officials now aim to reach an additional four million children by the end of the campaign.

According to NEOC data, the campaign has achieved strong coverage across the provinces and regions, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recording a 94% coverage rate, followed by Balochistan at 92%, Punjab 91%, Sindh 88%, Gilgit-Baltistan 96%, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 99%, and Islamabad Capital Territory at 82%.

The NEOC has urged parents to ensure their children receive the polio drops during each round of the campaign, stressing that full cooperation with frontline health workers is vital to protect children and ultimately eradicate the disease from the region.