Khyber District reports country’s sixth polio case

ISLAMABAD, Oct 05 (APP): The National Emergency Operations Center for Polio Eradication (NEOC) on Monday confirmed the sixth polio case of 2026 for Pakistan from Khyber District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.

According to official sources, the affected child is a seven-year-old male from Union Council Ghundi-A, in Tehsil Jamrud.

The Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative has launched a comprehensive case investigation.

As a response, additional measures to reach and protect children are also being planned – including a vaccination campaign to administer both oral and injectable vaccines for children of older age, as well as enhancement of routine immunization.

Five of this year’s six cases have been reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, four of them from Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone.

Sources said that due to polio vaccines—which are safe and effective—Pakistan has reduced polio cases by 99.8 percent, from an estimated 20,000 cases in the early 1990s to 31 in 2025, and 6 so far this year.

Overall poliovirus transmission in the country has declined since 2025, transmission remains persistent in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and core reservoirs like the Khyber-Peshawar block.

Polio is a highly contagious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis and, in some cases, death.

It can, however, be prevented through safe and effective polio vaccines, which have been used safely in 195 countries, including all Muslim-majority countries.

In 2026, Pakistan has already implemented four large-scale polio campaigns, protecting more than 45 million children multiple times, alongside smaller targeted oral and injectable vaccination campaigns in high-risk areas.

 Last month, a subnational campaign protected over 29.3 million children across the country.

Polio eradication is a collective responsibility. Pakistan’s dedicated frontline workers continue to bring vaccines to children at their doorsteps, while parents and caregivers play a crucial role by ensuring their children receive all recommended doses, including routine immunization.

They said communities, religious leaders, and the media have a vital role to play in promoting vaccination, countering misinformation, and ensuring every child is reached.