Pakistan’s National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication (NEOC) has confirmed the first wild polio case of 2026 in a four-year-old child from Bello Union Council, Sujawal district, Sindh. The case was detected through the polio surveillance network and verified by the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad.
Ongoing Efforts to Stop Transmission
The Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) is actively analysing the best response to prevent further transmission of the virus. Despite ongoing challenges, Pakistan remains committed to eradicating polio, a global public health threat, and leaving no child unprotected.
Since the early 1990s, polio vaccines have helped reduce cases in Pakistan by 99.8%, from an estimated 20,000 to just 31 cases in 2025. The country has implemented a nationwide polio campaign in 2026, protecting over 45 million children, with the next national campaign scheduled for April. In 2025 alone, Pakistan conducted five nationwide campaigns, supplemented by targeted rounds of oral and injectable polio vaccines integrated with routine immunisation programmes.
Persistent High-Risk Areas
Although overall poliovirus detections have declined compared to 2024, the virus continues to circulate in high-risk areas, particularly in districts of Sindh and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). These detections highlight the importance of robust, targeted vaccination efforts and consistent immunisation coverage for children.
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Importance of Vaccination and Community Involvement
Polio is a highly contagious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis or death, but it can be prevented through safe and effective vaccines, widely used in 195 countries, including all Muslim-majority nations.
The PEI urges parents and caregivers to ensure every child receives all recommended doses during campaigns and routine immunisation. Frontline workers, communities, religious leaders, and the media also play a crucial role in promoting vaccination, countering misinformation, and protecting children from the virus.
Key Takeaway: Pakistan’s fight against polio continues, with the first 2026 case serving as a reminder of the need for vigilance. Through combined efforts of health authorities, families, and communities, a polio-free future for every child in Pakistan and globally remains within reach.
