Two polio cases reported in Pakistan

Pakistan has reported two new cases of wild poliovirus from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, bringing the total number of infections recorded so far this year to three, officials said on Friday.

According to an official from the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) for Polio Eradication confirmed the cases in Bannu and North Waziristan districts.

The official said that limited access to certain areas in the province continues to hinder vaccination efforts, creating conditions that allow the virus to spread and posing a persistent threat to children.

“The two new cases were identified through the poliovirus surveillance network and later confirmed by the WHO-accredited Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health,” the official said.

Pakistan had reported its first polio case of the year from Sindh earlier. With the latest detections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the nationwide tally has now reached three.

Health authorities also warned that the high transmission season for poliovirus could begin earlier than usual this year due to rising temperatures.

“Typically, the high transmission period starts towards the end of May and continues until September,” the official noted.