{“title”:”Pakistan Drops Polio Cases to 30 in 2025 Amid Ongoing Attacks”,”body”:”At a Glance
– 30 polio cases in 2025, less than half of 74 in 2024.
– 98% of the 45 million children reached in the latest campaign.
– Militants have killed over 200 polio workers and police since the 1990s.
– Why it matters: The decline shows progress, but ongoing attacks threaten to reverse gains.
In a recent statement, Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Initiative reported a sharp drop in polio cases to 30 in 2025, down from 74 a year earlier, after a nationwide campaign that reached more than 98% of 45 million children. Yet militant attacks on vaccinators and police continue to threaten the country’s last remaining pockets of transmission.
## Campaign Success and Coverage
The final nationwide polio vaccination drive of 2025 targeted 45 million children. More than 98% of the target population was reached, according to the initiative. No new infections have been reported anywhere in the country since September, the coordinator said, attributing the decline to the year-long vaccination efforts.
Anwarul Haq stated:
> \”No new infections have been reported anywhere in the country since September, attributing the decline to vaccination drives carried out during the year.”
Anwarul Haq added:
> \”Pakistan will launch its first anti-polio drive of the new year in the first week of February.”
## Security Challenges
Militants have repeatedly targeted vaccination workers and the police protecting them, claiming the campaigns are a Western plot to sterilize Muslim children. Authorities deploy thousands of police officers during each drive following intelligence warnings. Since the 1990s, more than 200 polio workers and police guarding them have been killed in such attacks, officials say.
| Year | Polio Cases |
|——|————-|
| 2024 | 74 |
| 2025 | 30 |
The decline in cases is a positive sign, but continued transmission in hard-to-reach areas means Pakistan remains vulnerable to setbacks unless immunization efforts are sustained.
## Future Plans
Pakistan will begin its first anti-polio drive of 2025 in the first week of February, aiming to eliminate remaining transmission pockets. The campaign will focus on regions with persistent security constraints, particularly the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Key Takeaways
– 30 polio cases in 2025, down from 74 in 2024.
– 98% of 45 million children reached in the latest campaign.
– Over 200 polio workers and police have been killed since the 1990s.
The country’s progress is tempered by security threats that could jeopardize eradication efforts if not addressed.”,”meta_description”:”Pakistan reports 30 polio cases in 2025, down from 74 in 2024, after a campaign that reached 98% of 45 million children, but attacks on vaccinators continue.”,”categories”:[“Health News”,”World News”]}
