The National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has confirmed two new polio cases in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), raising the total number of cases in Pakistan to three in 2026.

The cases were reported from Bannu and North Waziristan districts. Officials reiterated that polio remains incurable but can be prevented through timely vaccination.

The EOC stressed the importance of administering polio drops to children during every immunization campaign. A special nationwide anti-polio drive is scheduled this month in selected districts.

During the campaign, approximately 19 million children will be vaccinated against the virus. Authorities called for increased public cooperation to ensure complete eradication of polio from the country.

Pakistan launched its second nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2026 on April 13. During that campaign, over 45 million children under five were vaccinated.

The week-long drive ran until April 19, involving 400,000 frontline workers conducting door-to-door visits to eliminate the virus. Over the last three decades, Pakistan has reduced polio cases by 99.8%, from 20,000 cases in 1994 to 31 in 2025, and 3 case so far in 2026.

Despite this progress, challenges remain. In 2026, poliovirus circulation was detected in 23 out of 87 districts, with a total of 40 positive environmental samples. These samples serve as a reminder that, as long as the virus exists anywhere, every child is at risk in Pakistan and worldwide.