Pakistan has reported its sixth polio case of the year, with the latest infection detected in a seven-year-old boy from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Khyber district, the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication (NEOC) confirmed on Monday. The child, a resident of Union Council Ghundi-A in Jamrud tehsil, marks another blow to the country’s troubled eradication campaign.
According to the NEOC statement, the Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative has launched a comprehensive case investigation. As part of its response, additional measures are being planned to reach and protect children, including a vaccination campaign that will administer both oral and injectable vaccines for older children, alongside an enhancement of routine immunisation.
The latest case is the sixth reported in Pakistan this year, and the fifth to emerge from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Four of the province’s cases have been concentrated in the Bannu division, which remains a critical vulnerability in the national effort. The new infection came less than a week after the year’s fifth case surfaced on September 29, underscoring the persistent threat in the region.
These developments unfolded as a weeklong sub-national polio campaign concluded on September 27, during which more than 28.2 million children were vaccinated. Despite the scale of that drive, severe security challenges continue to threaten eradication efforts in the northwest, complicating the work of vaccinators and health teams.
Polio is a highly contagious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis and, in some cases, death. It can, however, be prevented through safe and effective polio vaccines. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where the disease remains endemic.
The recurring cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly in Bannu, highlight the difficult terrain and security environment that health workers must navigate. Each new infection signals gaps in immunity that require rapid, targeted responses to prevent further spread.
With the campaign already underway to reach older children through injectable vaccines and strengthen routine immunisation, authorities face the dual challenge of delivering doses and rebuilding community trust. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether the virus can be contained in its remaining strongholds.
Source: Dawn News