Bannu Division emerges as poliovirus epicentre with fourth case

The poliovirus has resurfaced in Pakistan, with the country's Bannu Division emerging as the epicentre of the outbreak, according to the latest confirmation from the Regional Reference Laboratory. This year's fifth polio case has been identified in a 17-month-old girl from Khandar Khankhel Union Council in Bannu district's Tehsil Domel.

Of the total five cases reported this year, four have been concentrated in Bannu Division, with three originating from Bannu district itself. While polio cases nationwide have seen a significant decline since 2025, the virus's persistent presence in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to be a cause for concern. Health officials attribute the reduction in polio cases to the effective use of the polio vaccine, which has decreased Pakistan's annual cases by 99.8% — from an estimated 20,000 in the 1990s to just 31 in 2025, and down to five cases so far this year.

Despite this progress, the new case highlights the necessity for enhanced efforts in anti-polio campaigns and surveillance across the country, emphasizing that every child remains unprotected until polio is eradicated from all communities. In 2026, four major national campaigns have already been conducted, vaccinating over 45 million children.

However, a special campaign last week administered vaccines to an additional 28 million children, yet the virus's continued presence remains a threat. Polio is a highly infectious and debilitating disease that can lead to lifelong paralysis or death in children, yet it is entirely preventable through safe and effective vaccinations.

Health experts and officials have called upon parents, religious leaders, and the media to collectively play their part in dispelling misinformation and ensuring the complete vaccination of all children.