ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reported two new cases of poliovirus in northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, underscoring the persistent threat of transmission in regions where access and vaccination efforts remain challenging.
The latest infections—one each reported in Bannu and North Waziristan—bring the total number of polio cases in Pakistan to three so far this year, according to the National Emergency Operations Center for Polio Eradication.
“The two new cases were reported through the poliovirus surveillance network and confirmed by the WHO-accredited Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad,” the NEOC said in a statement.
“The affected children belong to Jani Khel union council of Bannu and Garyom union council of North Waziristan districts,” it added.
Pakistan remains one of only two countries in the world where poliovirus is still endemic, alongside Afghanistan.
Health experts say that sustained campaigns, strengthened surveillance, and community awareness are crucial to achieving the long-sought goal of a polio-free Pakistan.
Polio is a highly infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis.
The only effective protection is through repeated doses of the Oral Polio Vaccine for every child under five during each campaign, alongside timely completion of all routine immunizations.
Pakistan conducted a nationwide anti-polio campaign from April 13 to 19, during which more than 44.7 million children were vaccinated. The country is also preparing for another round of immunization in May, aimed at reaching nearly 19 million children.
