Polio Cases in Pakistan across Provinces
An analytical breakdown of wild poliovirus transmission dynamics and historical indicators across Pakistan's provinces and territories from 2015 to 2026.
Poliovirus Transmission in Pakistan
Pakistan remains one of only two polio-endemic nations globally. While vaccination campaigns have successfully contained the virus to specific geographic belts, regional challenges, sanitation gaps, and population movement cause cases to reappear across provincial boundaries.
Regional Overview (2015 - 2025 Totals)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)
Nearly half of all cases in Pakistan occur in KP. Mountainous terrains, tribal border areas, and security issues complicate vaccination outreach, leaving thousands of children missed.
Sindh
Karachi's dense informal settlements are major transmission engine rooms. Poor sanitation and contaminated water speed virus spread; Sindh recorded 23 cases in 2024.
Balochistan
Balochistan faces persistent transmission risks due to low immunization network density and high migration flows along the border with Afghanistan. Had 27 cases in 2024.
Punjab
Case counts remain low but persistent in bad years (12 in 2019 and 14 in 2020), primarily in urban slums like Lahore and south Punjab districts.
GB, AJK & Islamabad
Smaller populations, better hygiene, and stronger healthcare access keep these regions mostly safe, though importation from endemic zones remains a threat.
Key Timeline Milestones (2019 - 2026)
Resurgence Peak (147 Cases)
The highest count in over a decade, heavily driven by vaccine refusals and campaign gaps in KPK (93 cases) and Sindh (30 cases).
Historic Low (1 Case)
A single case countrywide proved that highly-coordinated door-to-door immunization campaigns could achieve complete eradication.
Post-COVID Comeback (74 Cases)
Campaign interruptions during COVID lockdowns left a massive cohort of newborns completely unvaccinated, fueling a rapid multi-province resurgence.
Renewed Strategy (31 Cases)
Cases dropped by over 50% following five intensive nationwide door-to-door immunization sweeps, though sewage samples continue to show virus activity.
Ongoing Fight (3 Cases)
Three confirmed cases recorded in Sujawal, Bannu, and North Waziristan. Active environmental surveillance and weekly sweeps continue.
Primary Eradication Obstacles
Vaccine Hesitancy
Misconceptions in marginalized communities cause some families to repeatedly refuse the vaccine drops.
Security & Access
Remote border zones and local security threats make it difficult for frontline workers to reach every child.
Transit Migration
High cross-border mobility with Afghanistan continuously imports poliovirus strains, sparking new outbreaks.
Sanitation & Hygiene
Poor sewage infrastructure allows the virus to survive in local waterways and transmit easily through contaminated water.
District-Wise Stats
Check specific city and district-wise details of poliovirus cases (WPV1 & cVDPV2) mapped across Pakistan.
View District CasesSurveillance System
Environmental sewage testing monitors weekly virus trends across 115 sites nationwide, serving as our primary early warning system.
Learn How We Track The Virus