Pakistan reports fourth polio case of 2026 in Bannu

Pakistan has reported its fourth polio case of 2026, with the latest infection detected in the Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The affected individual is an eight-month-old child from the Nurar Union Council in Miryan tehsil.

The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) noted that three of the four cases reported this year have emerged from the Bannu Division. Health officials attributed the continued circulation of the virus to security-related access constraints, which have prevented vaccination teams from consistently reaching children in certain areas since 2025.

While overall poliovirus transmission has declined across Pakistan, the risk remains persistent in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. To combat the spread, a nationwide door-to-door vaccination campaign is scheduled to run from September 21 to 27, aiming to administer vaccine drops to approximately 31 million children.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently reaffirmed the government's commitment to complete eradication during a meeting with a delegation from the Gates Foundation, noting the foundation's role in supporting national health and welfare initiatives.