Pakistan reports year's fifth polio case

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication on Tuesday confirmed a new polio case, fifth of Pakistan this year, from Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The affected child is a 17-month-old girl from Khandar Khankhel Union Council in Tehsil Domel of Bannu district. Out of the five total cases reported this year, four have emerged from Bannu Division, with three detected in Bannu district alone. Although overall transmission of the poliovirus across the country has declined since 2025, the presence and circulation of the virus in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains a persistent concern. Officials stated that due to the effective use of the polio vaccine, polio cases in Pakistan have been reduced by 99.8%—falling from an estimated 20,000 annual cases in the 1990s to 31 in 2025, and restricted to just five cases so far this year. However, the new case underscores the need to further tighten anti-polio campaigns and surveillance nationwide, as no child will be safe from polio until every child is protected. During 2026, four major national campaigns have already been conducted in Pakistan, administering drops to over 45 million children. Last week, a special campaign vaccinated 28 million children; however, the persistent presence of the virus continues to pose a threat to children. Polio is an infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis or death in children, though complete prevention is possible through safe and effective vaccines. Health experts and officials have urged parents, religious leaders, and the media to play their role in dispelling rumours and ensuring full vaccination of children.