First polio case of 2026 confirmed in Sindh’s Sujawal district

SUJAWAL: Pakistan has reported its first wild poliovirus case of 2026, confirmed in a four-year-old child from Bello Union Council in Sujawal district, Sindh, authorities said today.

The case was identified through the country’s polio surveillance network and later verified by the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health, Islamabad. Officials from the National Emergency Operations Center for Polio Eradication (NEOC) confirmed the diagnosis and said immediate measures are being evaluated to prevent further transmission.

“While challenges remain, eradicating polio in Pakistan and globally is within reach. Our teams are intensifying efforts to ensure that no child is left behind,” said a spokesperson from the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI).

HISTORICAL PROGRESS AND ONGOING VACCINATION EFFORTS

Pakistan has made remarkable progress in the fight against polio over the last three decades. Since 1994, polio cases in the country have declined by 99.8 per cent, dropping from an estimated 20,000 cases in the early 1990s to just 31 reported in 2025.

In 2026, Pakistan launched a nationwide polio vaccination campaign that reached over 45 million children, with the next campaign scheduled for April. Last year, the PEI conducted five nationwide campaigns, alongside targeted rounds of oral and injectable vaccines and integrated immunization activities through the national routine immunization program.

CONTINUING CHALLENGES IN HIGH-RISK AREAS

Despite a general decline in poliovirus detections compared to 2024, circulation persists in high-risk regions, including parts of Sindh and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Health authorities stress that continued vigilance and high-quality vaccination campaigns are critical to interrupting transmission.

 “Polio is highly contagious and can cause lifelong paralysis or death. Vaccination is the only way to prevent it, and it is safe, effective, and widely used in 195 countries, including all Muslim-majority nations,” said the NEOC spokesperson.

CALL FOR COLLECTIVE ACTION

Polio eradication requires a joint effort from government agencies, frontline health workers, parents, and communities. Authorities urge parents and caregivers to ensure their children receive all recommended doses, including routine immunizations, and participate in every vaccination campaign.

Community leaders, religious authorities, and the media are also being called upon to counter misinformation and encourage vaccination. The PEI emphasized that “together, we can achieve a polio-free future for every child, in Pakistan and worldwide.”