A new wild poliovirus case has been reported in Bannu district, marking the 12th confirmed case in Pakistan this year and the third in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the Polio Eradication Programme.

The latest case was diagnosed in a child in Bannu’s Saintanga Tehsil, with the Regional Reference Laboratory at the National Institute of Health confirming the infection. Local officials noted that this area had missed several vaccination campaigns since October 2023, emphasizing persistent immunity gaps.

Security issues and vaccine hesitancy in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have compounded efforts to reach every child. The region remains a high-risk zone, alongside Lakki Marwat, Tank, and North Waziristan. Coordinators cite limited female vaccinators and household access challenges as major barriers to achieving full immunization coverage.

Pakistan has recorded 11 wild poliovirus cases through mid‑June 2025, with 2 additional cases from Afghanistan. As the country pushes towards the World Health Organization’s certification for polio eradication—which requires 36 consecutive months with zero cases—every new case marks a significant setback.

Health authorities continue to conduct door-to-door vaccination campaigns, deploy mobile teams, and engage religious leaders in outreach efforts to counter misinformation. They urge parents to ensure their children receive repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine, citing that only one in 200 infections show visible symptoms, meaning many infections go undetected without surveillance.

With Eidul‑Azha approaching—when human-animal contact increases—officials emphasize urgent focus on extended vaccination coverage in border districts. Reaching “every last child” remains critical, especially in areas with interrupted campaigns, to stop community transmission and move Pakistan closer to becoming polio-free.

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