Pakistan has reported its first polio case of 2026. The virus was detected in a four-year-old boy from Bello Union Council in Sujawal District, Sindh.
The Pakistan National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication confirmed the case. It was verified through the nationwide surveillance system and the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health in Islamabad. Authorities have announced immediate response measures to prevent further spread.
This polio case involves wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), a highly contagious strain. Sindh remains a core reservoir for the virus. In 2025, Pakistan reported 31 polio cases, highlighting ongoing challenges in vaccination coverage and surveillance. Officials emphasized the need for urgent containment to stop transmission.
Pakistan runs multiple nationwide immunization campaigns each year. Over 400,000 health workers are deployed to vaccinate around 45 million children under five through door-to-door drives. The latest campaign in February 2026 targeted more than 45 million children across 159 districts. However, under-vaccinated communities continue to allow the virus to persist.
Earlier in 2026, polio virus was detected in sewage samples across the country. Testing by the Pakistan National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication and the National Institute of Health confirmed contamination in several regions. Most positive samples were from Sindh, with additional detections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Balochistan. No virus was found in Azad Kashmir or Gilgit-Baltistan.
Authorities have stressed the importance of full immunization for all children under five. They warned that even a single polio case can quickly lead to outbreaks if vaccination gaps are not addressed. Emergency response teams are now conducting targeted immunization in the affected areas to prevent further transmission.
Pakistan continues to aim for polio eradication despite persistent challenges. The detection of this polio case underscores the importance of maintaining strong surveillance and vaccination programs nationwide. Officials urge parents to ensure children receive all recommended doses of the polio vaccine.
In other news read more about First Anti-Polio Campaign of 2026 Concludes Successfully, Says NEOC
With swift containment and increased immunization coverage, Pakistan hopes to prevent additional polio cases in 2026.
