Pakistan Reports First Wild Poliovirus Case in 2026

Islamabad – Pakistan’s health authorities have confirmed the first case of wild poliovirus in 2026, detected in a four-year-old child from Bello Union Council, Sujawal district, Sindh province. The case was identified through the country’s polio surveillance network and verified by the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad.

National Polio Campaigns Underway

Despite this setback, Pakistan continues to implement comprehensive polio eradication efforts. A nationwide polio campaign, protecting over 45 million children, has already been conducted in 2026, with the next national campaign scheduled for April. In 2025, the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) executed five nationwide campaigns, supplemented by targeted vaccination rounds using both oral and injectable polio vaccines, and integrated activities with the national routine immunization program.

Progress and Challenges in Polio Eradication

Since 1994, Pakistan has achieved a 99.8% reduction in polio cases thanks to widespread vaccination efforts, decreasing from an estimated 20,000 cases in the early 1990s to 31 cases in 2025.

While overall poliovirus detections have decreased compared to 2024, indicating the positive impact of vaccination campaigns, the virus continues to circulate in high-risk areas, particularly in districts of Sindh and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This underscores the need for sustained, targeted interventions and consistent vaccination coverage for all children.

The Importance of Polio Vaccination

Polio is a highly contagious and incurable disease that can lead to lifelong paralysis and even death. Yet, it is preventable through safe and effective polio vaccines, which have been used in 195 countries worldwide, including all Muslim countries.

The PEI remains committed to intensifying its efforts to reach every child and eliminate polio, recognizing that eradicating this global public health threat remains within reach.