ISLAMABAD: A five-month-old baby from Lakki Marwat has been diagnosed with wild poliovirus, raising Pakistan’s total cases to 19 this year, the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) confirmed on Tuesday.
The NEOC termed the polio situation in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa “alarming” and announced a special action plan under the KP Chief Secretary’s leadership to tackle rising cases in high-risk districts.
A nationwide polio vaccination campaign is planned for next month, with special focus on southern KP. Officials urged parents to ensure all children under five receive polio drops and complete their routine immunizations.
This latest case highlights continued challenges in access, security, and community mistrust that threaten Pakistan’s fragile progress toward polio eradication.