#Pakistan

The specter of polio, a disease once on the brink of global eradication, is looming large yet again as new reports from 2025 reveal troubling spikes in Afghanistan and Pakistan, compounded by global aid disruptions and vaccine skepticism1. For Thai readers, these developments sound an urgent warning: even diseases thought to be “conquered” can return if public health vigilance lapses, offering a stark lesson relevant to Thailand’s ongoing immunization efforts and pandemic preparedness.

Polio, once nearing global eradication, now faces renewed risk as reports from 2025 highlight spikes in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The disruptions to aid campaigns and rising vaccine skepticism threaten progress and offer a crucial lesson for Thailand’s immunization and pandemic preparedness.

Despite decades of effort, polio has never fully left the world. The latest warnings focus on Pakistan and Afghanistan—the last two nations with active wild polio transmission. In 2024, Pakistan saw a sharp rise in cases, while Afghanistan reported dozens of infections, underscoring how operational challenges and vaccination gaps persist. Early 2025 figures show continued, though smaller, case numbers, reminding health officials that the virus can rebound with the right conditions.