KARACHI: Pakistan has reported its seventh poliovirus case of 2026, with the latest infection detected in Karachi's East District, the Sindh Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) confirmed on Monday.
According to the Sindh EOC, the new case has brought the total number of poliovirus infections reported across the country this year to seven, including five cases from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and two from Sindh.
The latest detection marks the return of polio to Karachi after nearly two years, as the previous case from the metropolitan city was reported in December 2024.
Health authorities have reiterated that polio is an incurable but vaccine-preventable disease, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that every child receives polio vaccination during each immunization campaign.
Meanwhile, the Sindh EOC announced that a Sub-National Polio Vaccination Campaign will be conducted from November 2 to 8, 2026, covering 97 districts across Pakistan, including all districts of Karachi.
During the seven-day campaign, more than 23.9 million children under the age of five will be targeted for vaccination against poliovirus.
Frontline vaccination teams will visit communities and households to administer oral polio vaccine drops and protect children against the potentially disabling disease.
The Sindh EOC has urged parents and caregivers to ensure that their children receive polio drops during every vaccination campaign, regardless of their previous vaccination status.
Authorities have also emphasized the importance of completing children's routine immunization schedules on time alongside polio vaccination to ensure protection against other vaccine-preventable diseases.
The Sindh EOC called upon all segments of society, including parents, community leaders, healthcare professionals, religious scholars and civil society representatives, to actively support vaccination efforts and contribute to the nationwide goal of polio eradication.
