Pakistan Reports 9th Polio Case of 2026

Pakistan has reported its ninth case of wild poliovirus in 2026 in the country’s northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI) said on Thursday.

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication in Islamabad confirmed that the virus was detected in a seven-month-old baby in Khyber district, the PEI said in a statement.

It is the third polio case reported from Khyber district this year and the seventh from the province.

Despite an overall decline in wild poliovirus transmission in Pakistan this year, virus detections have continued in the province, indicating persistent risks to children, the statement added.

The PEI has launched a comprehensive investigation into the latest case and is assessing science-based measures to interrupt virus transmission.

A nationwide door-to-door vaccination campaign is currently underway in 97 districts, targeting nearly 24 million children.

Further measures, including expanded health services and strengthened routine immunization, are also being considered to improve children’s immunity, the statement said.