Peshawar: Pakistan's polio case count for 2026 rose to eight after health authorities confirmed another infection in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where a 13 month old girl tested positive for the virus in Khyber district.
Health officials said the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad confirmed the latest case.
The affected child is from Janbaz B Union Council in Bara tehsil, Khyber district. This is the district's second confirmed polio case this year.
In 2026, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported six cases, accounting for three quarters of the country's confirmed infections. Of the six provincial cases, three were in Bannu, two in Khyber, and one in North Waziristan.
Sindh recorded the remaining two cases, bringing the nationwide total to eight.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accounts for most infections
The latest case highlights the continued circulation of poliovirus in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in districts where vaccination campaigns struggle to reach every eligible child.
Pakistan remains one of the countries where wild poliovirus transmission was not interrupted.
Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that primarily affects children under five. The virus can attack the nervous system, causing irreversible paralysis.
Vaccination remains the primary means of preventing infection and protecting children from the disease.
Vaccination coverage remains central to eradication efforts
Pakistan's polio eradication programme relies on repeated vaccination campaigns, routine immunisation and environmental surveillance to detect the virus and curb transmission.
Health authorities use laboratory testing to confirm suspected infections and identify areas that may need additional vaccination efforts.
The confirmation of another case in Khyber district underscores the importance of reaching children who missed earlier vaccination rounds, particularly in communities where poliovirus continues to circulate.
The reported figures also show that the burden of confirmed cases remains concentrated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with six of the country's eight cases recorded in the province.
Health authorities will need to maintain vaccination coverage and surveillance in affected districts to prevent further infections.
The latest case brings renewed attention to Pakistan's ongoing efforts to interrupt poliovirus transmission and protect children from a preventable disease.
