Pakistan’s National Emergency Operations Center for Polio Eradication (NEOC) has confirmed two new cases of wild poliovirus from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to NEOC, one case was reported in Bannu and another in North Waziristan, in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where access constraints continue to aid poliovirus transmission, posing a continued risk to children’s well-being.
The affected children belong to Jani Khel union council of Bannu and Garyom union council of North Waziristan districts.
Pakistan has reported three polio cases so far in 2026. Since the launch of Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Initiative in 1994, due to the medical science behind polio vaccines, Pakistan has reduced polio cases by 99.8% – from 20,000 estimated cases in the early 1990s to 31 in 2025.
The two new cases were reported through the poliovirus surveillance network and confirmed by the WHO-accredited Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad.
While overall poliovirus transmission in the country has been declining, with cases falling from 74 in 2024 to 31 in 2025 and three so far in 2026, reflecting the impact of high-quality vaccination drives, virus circulation in southern KP persists.
These detections underscore the continued need for robust and targeted efforts to interrupt transmission and the importance of consistent vaccination for children everywhere in the country. No child in Pakistan will be safe until every child is safe.
The Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) is already analyzing the best science-based response to reach and immunize children in this region and prevent further poliovirus transmission.
In addition, the PEI is implementing alternate strategies in southern KP, including integrated service delivery of health services like nutrition, routine immunization, maternal and child health and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), as well as a community-based polio vaccination initiative to increase vaccination rates and build immunity.
Polio is a highly contagious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis and, in some instances, even death. However, the disease can be prevented thanks to polio vaccines, which are safe and effective and have been safely used in 195 countries, including all Muslim countries.
In 2026, Pakistan has already implemented two nationwide polio campaigns that protected approximately 45 million children, while the next campaign is planned in May to immunize nearly 19 million children.
Polio eradication is a collective responsibility. While Pakistan’s dedicated frontline workers ensure that vaccines reach every child, parents and caregivers play a crucial role by making sure their children receive all recommended doses, including routine immunizations.
The PEI urged all parents and caregivers to ensure that their children are vaccinated during every campaign to protect them from lifelong disability or death.
Communities, religious leaders, and the media also play a vital role in promoting vaccination, countering misinformation, and ensuring that every child in Pakistan is protected.
