Polio Case in Gilgit-Baltistan

On June 2, 2025, Pakistan confirmed its 11th polio case of the year—the first ever reported in Gilgit-Baltistan. The case involves a 23-month-old boy from the Tangir area of Diamer district. This marks a significant development, as Gilgit-Baltistan had previously been considered polio-free. (China.org.cn, TNN - TRIBAL NEWS NETWORK, Geo News) The National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad verified the presence of the wild poliovirus in the child's stool sample. Genetic sequencing revealed that the virus strain originated from the Liaquatabad area of Karachi. Notably, the child had not traveled outside his district, suggesting silent transmission of the virus across regions. (TNN - TRIBAL NEWS NETWORK)

This case emerged shortly after Pakistan concluded its third nationwide polio vaccination campaign of the year, which aimed to immunize over 45 million children under the age of five across 159 districts, including high-risk areas. (Xinhua News) text/javascript"> atOptions = { 'key' : '20e547fb54e10ee4dd776930d13fb501', 'format' : 'iframe', 'height' : 90, 'width' : 728, 'params' : {} }; Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries where wild poliovirus is still endemic. Despite extensive vaccination efforts, challenges such as vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, and security concerns continue to hinder eradication efforts. (AP News, Dawn)

In response to the new case, health authorities in Gilgit-Baltistan have initiated emergency measures, including targeted vaccination drives and enhanced surveillance, to prevent further spread of the virus. (TNN - TRIBAL NEWS NETWORK)

For detailed district-wise data on polio cases in Pakistan, you can visit the official End Polio Pakistan website: (Endpolio)(Endpolio)