Pakistan’s national polio tally for 2026 has risen to eight after the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication (NEOC) — the federal coordination body for polio — confirmed a new case from Khyber District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
The affected child is a 13-month-old girl from Union Council Janbaz-B in Tehsil Bara. Officials said this is the second case from Khyber District this year and the sixth from KP overall. Of the eight cases reported nationwide so far, six are from KP — four of them from southern KP alone — and two are from Sindh.
Virus still circulating in the Peshawar Block
Authorities said overall wild poliovirus transmission has declined this year, but the Peshawar Block, which covers Khyber and Peshawar districts, has recorded positive environmental detections. Those samples indicate the virus is still circulating in the area and remains a risk to children’s health.
The Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) has opened a full case investigation and is assessing a science-based response. That work is expected to include targeted vaccination and support to strengthen routine immunisation — the regular childhood shots given at clinics and outreach sites, not only campaign doses.
Vaccination drives in 2026
In 2026 so far, Pakistan has run four large-scale polio campaigns that have protected more than 45 million children multiple times, along with smaller targeted rounds using oral and injectable vaccines in high-risk areas, including the Peshawar Block. A recent subnational campaign in September protected over 29.3 million children across the country.
The next round is scheduled from 2 to 8 November and is planned to protect nearly 24 million children in 97 districts, including Khyber. Parents are being urged to make sure every child under five receives oral polio vaccine in that drive and in later rounds.
A statement accompanying the confirmation said vaccines have cut Pakistan polio cases by 99.8%, from an estimated 20,000 cases in the early 1990s to 31 in 2025, and eight so far this year. Polio is highly contagious, has no cure, and can cause lifelong paralysis or death; it is preventable with vaccines used safely in 195 countries, including Muslim-majority countries. Only Pakistan and Afghanistan remain endemic for the disease.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Early 1990s: Pakistan had an estimated 20,000 polio cases a year.
- 2025: The country recorded 31 polio cases.
- 2026 to date: Four large-scale campaigns have protected more than 45 million children multiple times; eight cases have been confirmed (six in KP, two in Sindh).
- September 2026: A subnational round protected over 29.3 million children.
- Latest confirmation: An eighth 2026 case in a 13-month-old girl in Tehsil Bara, Khyber District.
- 2–8 November 2026: Planned subnational campaign for nearly 24 million children in 97 districts, including Khyber.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan mein 2026 ke athwein polio case ki tasdeeq ho gayi hai, Khyber District se. Ye 13 mahine ki bachi Tehsil Bara se hai, aur KP se ab tak chhe cases aa chuke hain. 2 se 8 November tak polio drops ka naya round chalega — paanch saal se kam umar ke bachon ko har round mein drops dilwana zaroori hai. Polio ka koi ilaj nahi, lekin vaccine se bacha ja sakta hai.
