ISLAMABAD: A new polio case has been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, raising the total number of cases in Pakistan this year to 19.

According to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), the latest case has been confirmed in a five-month-old child from Lakki Marwat district. The child, infected with the poliovirus, belongs to Union Council Suleman Khel.

According to the National Emergency Operations Center, the number of polio cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this year was 12 while the total number of polio cases was increased to 19 during 2025.

The National EOC statement said that the current polio situation in South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is alarming, a special anti -polio plan has been formed under the leadership of the Chief Secretary.

Health authorities have reiterated the need for urgent and continued vaccination efforts to curb the spread of the virus, especially in high-risk regions.

Polio is a highly infectious and incurable disease that can cause lifelong paralysis. The only effective protection is through repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) for every child under five during each campaign, along with the timely completion of all essential immunizations.