Six-Month-Old Boy Tests Positive for Polio in Karachi East

A six-month-old boy from Karachi East has been diagnosed with polio, bringing Pakistan’s total number of cases to seven in 2026. The case was confirmed by the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad. The child belongs to Jamali Colony Union Council and was reported to be malnourished. According to the Polio Eradication Initiative (PEI), the virus is already circulating in Karachi, where transmission has remained high over the past two years.

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Health officials said vaccination campaigns and routine immunisation have helped reduce the spread of the virus, with only one environmental surveillance site testing positive in September. However, children remain vulnerable as long as the virus continues to circulate. The PEI has launched an investigation and is evaluating targeted vaccination measures to contain the outbreak and strengthen routine immunisation. Of Pakistan’s seven polio cases this year, five have been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including four in southern districts, while two have emerged in Sindh.

Polio Vaccination Drive Set for November 2–8 Across 97 Districts

Pakistan has conducted four nationwide polio vaccination campaigns this year, reaching more than 45 million children. The next campaign is scheduled for November 2–8 across 97 districts, including all districts of Karachi, with a target of nearly 24 million children. Pakistan reported 31 polio cases in 2025, a significant decline from an estimated 20,000 cases in the early 1990s. As polio has no cure and can cause permanent paralysis or death, health authorities have urged parents to ensure that all children under five receive polio drops during every campaign and complete their routine vaccinations.

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