Pakistan Reports Sixth Polio Case Of 2026

Pakistan reported its sixth polio case of the year on Monday, with health authorities confirming that the latest infection was detected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Khyber district.

The National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication said the affected child is a seven-year-old boy from Union Council Ghundi-A in Jamrud tehsil. The case adds to Pakistan’s continuing struggle to interrupt poliovirus transmission, especially in high-risk parts of the northwest.

According to the centre, the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative has launched a comprehensive case investigation after confirmation of the infection. Authorities are also planning additional response measures to protect children in the affected area and reduce the risk of further spread.

The planned response includes a vaccination campaign that will administer both oral and injectable vaccines to children of older age groups. Health officials also intend to strengthen routine immunisation, a key part of preventing gaps that allow the virus to keep circulating in vulnerable communities.

Five of the six polio cases reported in Pakistan during 2026 have come from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Four of those cases are from the Bannu division, which officials have identified as a critical vulnerability in the country’s eradication effort.

The latest case comes less than a week after the fifth case of the year was reported on September 29. The timing has renewed concern over persistent transmission in areas where vaccination teams face operational, access and security challenges.

The development also follows a weeklong sub-national polio campaign that concluded on September 27. During that drive, more than 28.2 million children were vaccinated, showing the scale of Pakistan’s continuing effort to protect children against the disease.

Despite repeated campaigns, severe security challenges continue to threaten eradication work in the northwest. Areas affected by insecurity can create missed children, delayed follow-up and difficulty in maintaining consistent vaccination coverage.

Polio is a highly contagious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis and, in some cases, death. Health authorities stress that the disease is preventable through safe and effective vaccines, which remain the central tool for stopping transmission.

Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries where polio is still endemic. The new case underlines the importance of rapid investigation, targeted vaccination and stronger routine immunisation if Pakistan is to prevent further cases and move closer to eradication.