Pakistan reports ninth polio case of 2026 from Khyber

Pakistan has reported its ninth case of polio for 2026, with the latest infection confirmed in Khyber district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) on Thursday. The child, a seven-month-old boy from Mastak union council in Bara tehsil, is the third case from the district this year and the seventh from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

All three cases from the Khyber district have genetic links to Afghanistan, which is currently experiencing a significant outbreak. The poliovirus detected in all three cases is believed to be circulating across the border from Afghanistan, highlighting the need for consistent vaccination efforts. The National Emergency Operations Centre emphasized the importance of maintaining vaccination campaigns, especially during the ongoing polio eradication efforts that involve both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The statement stressed that poliovirus knows no borders, and until every child is safe and the virus has been completely eradicated, no child is safe. Although overall transmission of wild poliovirus has decreased this year, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa districts, along with the Peshawar block, continue to report virus detections.

Pakistan, along with Afghanistan, is one of the last two countries where polio remains endemic. The polio vaccine campaign is currently underway in 97 districts, including Khyber, to immunize nearly 24 million children. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for intensified efforts to eradicate polio, directing authorities to prepare an action plan within a week.

The government is prioritizing security and uninterrupted access to vaccination teams while improving routine immunization coverage, especially in polio-affected areas and regions of concern.