Pakistan has reported two new polio cases, raising the national tally to three for the current year. The latest infections highlight ongoing transmission risks in vulnerable regions. Health officials have warned that access challenges continue to hamper eradication efforts.
According to the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, the cases were confirmed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. One case was reported from Bannu and another from North Waziristan. The findings were verified by the National Institute of Health laboratory in Islamabad.
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Moreover, officials said restricted access in certain areas is enabling continued virus spread. They warned that rising temperatures could accelerate transmission earlier than usual this year. Typically, the high transmission season begins in late May and continues through September.
Polio remains a highly infectious disease with no cure, but it is preventable through vaccination. Health authorities continue nationwide immunisation drives targeting children under five. Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where wild poliovirus cases persist.
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Additionally, the World Health Organization has maintained travel-related vaccination requirements for Pakistan since 2014. Officials stressed the importance of completing routine immunisation schedules to build immunity in children. Continued vaccination campaigns remain central to eradication efforts.