Progress and the remaining risk

World Polio Day 2026 was observed on 24 October under the global theme Make Polio History. The day celebrates progress against a disease that once paralysed large numbers of children, while reminding governments and communities that the final steps towards eradication remain unfinished. Pakistan stands at the centre of that challenge.

The country has reduced its annual polio cases by 99.8 percent, from an estimated 20,000 in the early 1990s to 31 in 2025, according to the report. But seven cases of wild poliovirus have been reported so far in 2026, showing that children remain vulnerable even after years of progress. Five of this year's seven cases were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and two in Sindh, according to Pakistan's polio programme.

The latest case and why vaccination matters

The latest case involved a six-month-old boy from Karachi East, confirmed on 19 October. For families, the figures are more than a national statistic. Polio can permanently paralyse a child, and there is no cure once the disease develops. Vaccination remains the most effective protection, the report said.

Decades of vaccination, international cooperation and the work of frontline health workers have brought the disease close to eradication worldwide. The message of this year's observance, as reported, is that the world has come a long way, but the fight cannot be considered over while the virus continues to circulate. Parents are advised to follow their local vaccination schedules and health programme guidance.