Khyber becomes the latest district to report a polio case as authorities intensify vaccination efforts in high-risk areas.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reported its sixth polio case of 2026 after a seven-year-old boy from Khyber district tested positive for the virus, according to the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication in Islamabad.
The affected child belongs to Ghundi-A Union Council in Jamrud tehsil of Khyber district, according to the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme.
Authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into the case and initiated additional measures to improve vaccination coverage among children in high-risk areas.
Officials said the measures include a special campaign to provide polio drops and injectable polio vaccines to older children, alongside efforts to further strengthen routine immunization services.
The latest case brings Pakistan’s total number of reported polio cases in 2026 to six. Five of these cases have been reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while four of the cases from the province have emerged from southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to polio authorities, virus transmission continues in key reservoirs, particularly southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Khyber-Peshawar block.
The authorities said that although the overall transmission of poliovirus across Pakistan has declined significantly since 2025, persistent transmission in high-risk areas remains a concern for eradication efforts.
The latest case highlights the continued vulnerability of children in areas where poliovirus circulation remains active and underscores the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage through both supplementary campaigns and routine immunization.
Authorities are continuing investigations and vaccination interventions in affected and high-risk areas to prevent further transmission of the virus.
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