Pakistan records seventh polio case of 2026, a malnourished infant in Karachi

Pakistan’s National Emergency Operation Centre announced its seventh polio case of 2026, involving a six-month-old boy from Karachi’s East district who tested positive for wild poliovirus. The child, residing in Union Council Jamali Colony, was detected via the polio surveillance network and confirmed by the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institutes of Health in Islamabad. Officials said the boy is malnourished and that this is the first case reported from Karachi since December 2024, despite two years of persistent virus circulation.

Five of the year’s seven cases have occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including four in Bannu division, and two in Sindh. The NEOC has launched a comprehensive investigation while the Polio Eradication Initiative evaluates science-based responses, such as targeted vaccination and strengthening routine immunisation. Four nationwide campaigns have already reached over 45 million children in 2026, with another sub-national round scheduled for early November covering all Karachi districts in coordination with Afghanistan.