Polio Case in Gilgit Baltistan’s Diamer District: Child Recovers After WPV-1 Infection

June 2, 2025 | Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan administered Kashmir: A recent polio case has been reported in the Tangir Gabbar Valley of Diamer district in Gilgit-Baltistan region part of Kashmir dispute, prompting a joint investigation by the Department of Health and officials from the World Health Organization (WHO). The case involves a child infected with wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV-1), though the child has since recovered fully.

Key Findings of the Investigation

Health teams surveyed 30 households within a 500-meter radius of the affected child’s residence. The findings revealed:

• Children in the area had received routine immunization (RI) vaccines and at least seven supplementary immunization activity (SIA) doses.
• The infected child, however, had not received any routine polio vaccines but had taken all seven SIA doses.
• The child’s father had traveled to Punjab during Ramadan for religious preaching, raising concerns about possible virus transmission.

Child’s Recovery and Possible Explanation

Despite contracting the virus, the child has fully recovered, demonstrating normal mobility in both arms and legs. Health experts suggest that while the lack of routine immunization left the child vulnerable to infection, the multiple SIA doses may have mitigated severe paralysis.

Samples of WPV-1 were isolated from the child’s stool and confirmed by the Regional Reference Laboratory (RRL) in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Next Steps by Health Authorities

To prevent further spread, the Gilgit-Baltistan Health Department has announced:

• Strengthening polio transit points (PTPs) in Diamer.
• Conducting one or two additional special polio campaigns in UC Gabbar Tangir.
• Enhancing surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases.
• Retraining doctors and public health staff on immediate reporting of suspected polio cases.

The WHO and local health teams continue monitoring the area to ensure no further outbreaks occur.

— Reporting by The Azadi Times