ISLAMABAD / QUETTA: The National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication (NEOC) has confirmed the eighth polio case of the year, from Khyber district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“The case is a reminder of the importance of vaccinating every child, and parents are urged to ensure that all children under five receive the oral polio vaccine in the upcoming subnational campaign from Nov 2 November 10, 2026 to 8, and in subsequent campaigns,” an official of the polio programme said.
“The affected child is a 13-month-old girl from Union Council Janbaz-B in Bara tehsil. This is the second case reported from Khyber district this year, and the sixth from KP province, underscoring that no child will be safe from polio until all children are consistently vaccinated and protected across the country,” he added.
Although overall wild poliovirus transmission has declined this year, the Peshawar Block, comprising Khyber and Peshawar districts, has reported positive environmental samples, indicating continued virus circulation and a risk to children.
The Pakistan Polio Eradication Initiative has launched an investigation into the case and is assessing the best science-based response to prevent further transmission, including targeted vaccination activities and efforts to strengthen routine immunisation.
13-month-old girl from Khyber’s Bara tehsil contracts virus
So far in 2026, Pakistan has conducted four large-scale polio campaigns, protecting more than 45 million children multiple times, alongside smaller targeted campaigns to administer oral and injectable vaccines in high-risk areas, including the Peshawar Block.
The most recent subnational vaccination campaign in September covered more than 29.3m children.
The next sub-national campaign, scheduled from today until Nov 8, aims to protect nearly 24m children across 97 districts, including Khyber.
Over 2.2m to be vaccinated in Balochistan
Meanwhile, more than 2.2m children under five will be targeted for polio vaccination in 31 districts of Balochistan during the campaign.
Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) Balochistan Coordinator Inamul Haque said operational arrangements had been finalised, with 8,888 vaccination teams assigned to reach eligible children across the province.
The campaign will cover 658 union councils, with teams deployed at homes, designated vaccination sites and transit points to ensure no child is missed.
The workforce includes 583 fixed-site teams and 397 transit-point teams, which will focus on vaccinating children at key locations used by families travelling within and outside the province.
The targeted districts include Quetta East and West, Chaman, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Mastung, Kalat, Khuzdar, Hub, Chagai, Kharan, Noshki, Zhob, Loralai, Duki, Barkhan, Kohlu, Musakhel, Sherani, Harnai, Qila Saifullah, Kachhi, Jhal Magsi, Naseerabad, Jaffarabad, Sohbatpur, Usta Mohammad, Dera Bugti North and South, and other designated areas, including Barshore and Sevi.
Mr Haque cited around 50 reported cases in neighbouring Afghanistan and eight in Pakistan, warning that the virus could still threaten children despite progress in controlling the disease in Balochistan.
According to the EOC coordinator, no polio cases have been reported in Balochistan since November 2024. However, he stressed that the absence of recent cases did not eliminate the risk, particularly while the virus continued to circulate beyond the province.
Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2026.
