ISLAMABAD: Unknown gunmen opened fire on a polio vaccination team in Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan, marking a violent challenge amid the region’s first confirmed polio case of the year.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported during the attack, which took place near Sheikho village in Tangir Valley — the constituency of GB’s Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan.
The attackers stopped the team’s vehicle near the RCC bridge and fired shots, puncturing a tire. They accused the vaccinators of bringing “unveiled women” from Gilgit and warned them against returning.
The assailants fled towards a nearby hill after the attack. The polio team was immediately relocated to a safe location following the incident.
First Polio Case Confirmed in Gilgit-Baltistan
This incident coincides with the detection of the first wild poliovirus case in Gilgit-Baltistan this year, confirmed by the National Institute of Health’s Regional Reference Laboratory.
The patient is a 23-month-old child from Diamer’s Tangir area who has not traveled outside the region. Genetic analysis revealed the virus strain originated from Karachi’s Liaquatabad area.
Although the child had received polio drops, vaccinations scheduled immediately after birth were missed. This case raises concerns, as GB had previously been declared polio-free. Pakistan has recorded 11 polio cases nationwide in 2025 so far.
Ongoing Polio Eradication Efforts Under Threat
The attack on the vaccination team highlights ongoing security risks faced by healthcare workers in Pakistan, one of only two countries where polio remains endemic.
Despite vaccination campaigns reaching over 45 million children across 159 districts, challenges like misinformation, vaccine hesitancy, and targeted violence hamper eradication efforts.
Authorities continue to urge parents to ensure their children receive all recommended polio vaccines, emphasizing that repeated oral doses remain the only protection against this crippling disease.
