Pakistan reports first polio case of 2026 in Sindh’s Sujawal

Pakistan has reported its first polio case of the year in Sujawal district, Sindh, health authorities said on Thursday, highlighting ongoing challenges in eradicating the highly infectious disease.

The case was confirmed in a four-year-old child from Belo Union Council after testing by the Regional Reference Laboratory at the National Institute of Health in Islamabad. The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) also verified the diagnosis.

While Pakistan has made significant progress in combating polio, reporting a 99.8% reduction in cases since 1994, the virus remains a threat in certain areas.

Last year, 31 polio cases were recorded nationwide, with sporadic presence still reported in parts of Sindh and southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Authorities said more than 45 million children have been vaccinated during the nationwide polio campaign in 2026 and five national campaigns were conducted in 2025.

The next round of the anti-polio campaign is scheduled to begin in April this year.

Polio is a highly contagious, incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis, officials warned. Parents are urged to ensure that their children receive polio drops during each vaccination campaign to prevent further outbreaks.

Pakistan, along with Afghanistan, is one of the two remaining countries where wild poliovirus is still endemic, making continued vaccination campaigns critical to global eradication efforts.