PESHAWAR: Pakistan reported its 18th polio case this year after a 10-month-old boy tested positive for the virus in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to an official statement on Friday, raising renewed concerns over persistent transmission in areas with low vaccine uptake.

The latest infection, confirmed by the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health, marks the 11th case in the province, long identified as a high-risk zone for poliovirus transmission due to insecurity, vaccine hesitancy and operational challenges.

“A 10-month-old boy from Union Council Mullazai in District Tank, South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has been confirmed as the eleventh polio case ... this year, bringing the total number of polio cases in Pakistan in 2025 to eighteen,” the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) said in a statement.

“The continued detection of polio cases underscores the persistent threat to children, particularly in areas with low vaccine acceptance,” it added. “It is crucial for communities to understand that poliovirus can re-emerge wherever immunity gaps persist.”

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

While Pakistan’s polio program has carried out six vaccination campaigns since September 2024, thousands of children in South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remain unreached due to limited access and logistical barriers in conducting house-to-house immunizations.

The NEOC said two more nationwide and one sub-national campaign are planned between August and December, alongside targeted drives in high-risk districts to stop virus transmission.

Health authorities have also urged parents and caregivers to ensure their children receive every dose, and called on communities to support frontline workers, combat misinformation, and encourage vaccination as a collective responsibility.