Pakistan has reported a new polio case in Karachi, taking the country’s total number of infections to seven in 2026. Laboratory testing confirmed the presence of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in a child from the city, prompting health authorities to begin an investigation into the case.
Officials are conducting an epidemiological investigation to assess the child’s vaccination history and identify possible sources of transmission. The latest case adds Karachi to the areas reporting polio infections this year, while most of the previously reported cases have been recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Health authorities have repeatedly warned that the detection of poliovirus in environmental samples indicates continued transmission and poses a risk to children who are unvaccinated or have not received all recommended vaccine doses. Pakistan remains one of the few countries where wild poliovirus continues to circulate, making sustained vaccination efforts an important public health priority.
To prevent further infections, authorities have been conducting repeated vaccination campaigns in high-risk districts across the country. Vaccination teams administer oral polio vaccine to children under the age of five, aiming to strengthen immunity and reduce the spread of the virus within communities.
Health officials have urged parents and caregivers to ensure that children receive polio drops during every vaccination campaign. They emphasise that multiple doses are needed to provide adequate protection, and missing vaccination rounds can leave children vulnerable to infection.
Polio is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects young children and can cause irreversible paralysis. The latest case highlights the continuing challenges facing Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts and the importance of vaccination coverage, disease surveillance and timely public health investigations.
