Pakistan Confirms Fourth Polio Case of 2026 in Bannu
Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains the main hotspot as security challenges disrupt vaccination access
Health workers administer polio vaccine drops to children during a vaccination campaign in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD, September 11, 2026: Pakistan has confirmed its fourth polio case of 2026, with the latest infection reported in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication (NEOC) said on Friday.
The government-led Polio Eradication Initiative has urged parents and caregivers to ensure that children receive polio drops during the next nationwide campaign from September 21 to 27.
Southern KP Remains a Major Concern
Three of Pakistan’s four polio cases this year have emerged from southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Security-related access problems have prevented vaccination teams from reaching some children consistently.
The latest case involves a child from Nurar Union Council in Miryan tehsil, Bannu. According to the polio programme, vaccination teams have struggled to reach children in the area since 2025 because of insecurity.
The programme said these gaps have allowed wild poliovirus to continue circulating in parts of southern KP.
Pakistan Reports Major Decline in Polio Cases
Pakistan has reduced polio cases by 99.8 per cent since the early 1990s, according to the government’s Polio Eradication Initiative.
The country recorded an estimated 20,000 cases in the early 1990s. That figure fell to 31 cases in 2025.
However, officials said poliovirus transmission remains persistent in southern KP despite an overall decline across the country.
The programme stressed that strong surveillance and vaccination must continue nationwide.
“No child is safe from polio until every child is protected,” the programme said.
Next Polio Campaign Starts September 21
Pakistan has already conducted three large-scale polio vaccination campaigns this year.
The next national campaign will run from September 21 to 27. Authorities aim to vaccinate nearly 31 million children, including those living in southern KP.
Officials have urged parents to cooperate with vaccination teams during the campaign and in future rounds.
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Polio Can Cause Lifelong Paralysis
Polio is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause permanent paralysis and, in severe cases, death.
There is no cure for polio. However, vaccination can prevent the disease.
The polio programme said vaccines have been safely used in 195 countries, including Muslim-majority nations.
Pakistan reported its first polio case of 2026 in a four-year-old child from Bello Union Council in Sujawal district, Sindh.
The other two cases were reported from Bannu and North Waziristan, bringing the national total to four so far this year.
The latest case has renewed calls for uninterrupted vaccination access in areas where insecurity creates challenges for health teams.
