ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reported its fifth poliovirus case of the year, with the latest infection detected in Bannu district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, according to the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health.
The latest patient is a 17-month-old girl from Union Council Khandar Khankhel in Domel tehsil of Bannu district.
Bannu division has emerged as the main hotspot for poliovirus transmission this year, accounting for four of Pakistan’s five confirmed cases. Three of these cases have been reported from Bannu district.
Although Pakistan has made significant progress in reducing polio transmission, the virus continues to circulate in parts of southern K-P, keeping children in affected areas at risk.
The country has reduced the annual number of polio cases by 99.8% compared with the estimated 20,000 cases recorded each year in the early 1990s. Pakistan reported 31 cases in 2025, while five cases have been confirmed so far in 2026.
Health authorities have stressed the importance of continued vaccination and surveillance, warning that children remain vulnerable while poliovirus transmission persists anywhere in the country.
Polio is a highly contagious viral disease that can result in permanent paralysis and, in severe cases, death. There is no cure for the disease, but vaccination provides effective protection against infection and its serious consequences.
Pakistan has conducted four nationwide polio vaccination campaigns during 2026, reaching more than 45 million children on multiple occasions. Additional targeted campaigns using oral and injectable vaccines have also been carried out in high-risk areas.
A recent subnational vaccination drive reached more than 28 million children across the country. Health officials have nevertheless emphasised that repeated detection of poliovirus demonstrates the need for sustained immunisation efforts, particularly in areas where transmission remains persistent.
Polio eradication authorities have called for continued cooperation from parents, caregivers, health workers and communities. They have urged families to ensure that children receive every recommended polio vaccine dose, including vaccinations provided through routine immunisation programmes.
With sustained vaccination, effective disease surveillance and community participation, health authorities aim to prevent further transmission and move Pakistan closer to eliminating the virus.
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