Pakistan’s National Emergency Operations Center for Polio Eradication (NEOC) has confirmed two new cases of wild poliovirus, one 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.

Pakistan has reported three polio cases so far in 2026. Since the launch of Pakistan’s Polio Eradication Initiative in 1994, thanks 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. The affected children belong to Jani Khel union council of Bannu and Garyom union council of North Waziristan districts.

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 urges all parents and caregivers to ensure that their children are vaccinated during every campaign to protect them from lifelong disability and/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. Together, we can achieve a polio-free future for every child, in Pakistan and worldwide.

Note for the Editor:

Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by poliovirus mainly affecting children under the age of five years. It invades the nervous system and can cause paralysis or even death. While there is no cure for polio, vaccination is the most effective way to protect children from this disease. Each time a child under the age of five is vaccinated, their protection against the virus is increased. Repeated immunisations have protected millions of children from polio, allowing almost all countries in the world to become polio-free, besides the two endemic countries of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

For further information, please contact: Mr. Syed Farhan Shah, Public Relations Officer, NEOC, +923165011808, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.