ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reported its eighth polio case of 2026 after the National Emergency Operations Center for Polio Eradication (NEOC) confirmed a new infection in Khyber District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, raising concerns over continued poliovirus transmission ahead of the nationwide vaccination drive scheduled for November 2–8.
According to the NEOC, the latest case involves a 13-month-old girl from Union Council Janbaz-B in Tehsil Bara. This is the second polio case reported from Khyber District and the sixth from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this year.
Health authorities said that although wild poliovirus transmission has declined significantly in 2026, positive environmental samples from the Peshawar Block, comprising Khyber and Peshawar districts, indicate that the virus continues to circulate and poses a serious threat to unvaccinated children.
The Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the latest case and is assessing science-based response measures, including targeted vaccination activities and strengthening routine immunization services in high-risk areas.
According to official figures, Pakistan has conducted four large-scale polio vaccination campaigns during 2026, reaching more than 45 million children multiple times. Additional targeted campaigns have also been implemented in high-risk areas, including the Peshawar Block, using oral and injectable polio vaccines.
The September subnational vaccination campaign reached more than 29.3 million children, while the upcoming campaign, scheduled from November 2 to 8, aims to vaccinate nearly 24 million children under five across 97 districts, including Khyber.
Of the eight polio cases reported in Pakistan during 2026, six have emerged from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including four from southern districts, while two cases have been reported from Sindh.
Health officials highlighted that Pakistan has achieved a 99.8 percent reduction in polio cases compared with the early 1990s, when approximately 20,000 children were affected annually. The country recorded 31 cases in 2025 and eight cases so far in 2026.
The NEOC emphasized that polio remains a highly contagious and potentially life-threatening disease that can cause permanent paralysis. Although there is no cure, the disease can be prevented through safe and effective vaccines.
Authorities urged parents and caregivers to ensure that every child under five receives polio drops during the upcoming November campaign and every subsequent vaccination round, regardless of previous vaccination history.
The PEI also called upon religious leaders, community representatives and the media to support vaccination efforts, counter misinformation and help frontline health workers reach every eligible child.
Officials reiterated that eliminating polio from Pakistan requires sustained public cooperation, uninterrupted vaccination campaigns and stronger routine immunization coverage to protect future generations from the disease.
