PESHAWAR: Pakistan has reported the fourth polio case of the current year from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to officials, the new case has been reported from Bannu district in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The case was reported from Nurar Union Council in Miryan Tehsil of Bannu.
Officials said that out of the four polio cases reported this year, three belong to Bannu Division, where access for vaccination teams to children has been affected due to security issues. In Nurar Union Council, vaccination teams have not been able to continuously reach children since 2025 due to the security situation.
Authorities have appealed to parents and guardians to administer polio drops to their children. A nationwide anti-polio campaign will be held from September 21 to 27, 2026. The target is to vaccinate about 31 million children in the upcoming campaign.
So far in 2026, more than 45 million children have been given the polio vaccine multiple times. According to health officials, there has been a 99.8% reduction in polio cases in Pakistan. Compared to an estimated 20,000 polio cases in the early 1990s, 31 cases were reported in 2025.
Officials said that transmission of poliovirus is still ongoing in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Polio is an incurable and highly contagious disease, but it can be prevented through vaccination. Parents must ensure that all recommended vaccine doses are given to protect every child from polio.
