Pakistan has confirmed its first wild poliovirus case of 2026 after a four-year-old child in Bello Union Council, Sujawal district, Sindh, tested positive, officials said Friday.

The case was detected through the national surveillance system and verified by the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health in Islamabad, according to the National Emergency Operations Center.

Health authorities said the Polio Eradication Initiative is reviewing response strategies to curb further transmission in high-risk areas.

Despite setbacks, Pakistan has reduced polio cases by 99.8% since 1994  from an estimated 20,000 annual cases in the early 1990s to 31 reported in 2025. In 2026, a nationwide campaign immunized more than 45 million children, with another drive scheduled for April.

Although virus detections have declined compared to 2024, circulation continues in parts of Sindh and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Polio remains a highly contagious, incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis or death. Officials urged parents to ensure children receive every recommended dose, stressing that community leaders and media must help counter misinformation and protect every child from preventable disability.