Polio last mile Pakistan: One 2026 Case Signals Final Hurdles

Polio last mile Pakistan remains the hardest phase of eradicating the virus. In 2026, four-year-old Shahmeer from Sujawal in Sindh became Pakistan’s first reported polio case on March 5, despite a full routine vaccination record. Laboratory results linked the virus in his gut to an environmental sample from Hyderabad, confirming ongoing transmission in Sindh. By the end of 2025, Pakistan had 31 cases, and after three months in 2026 only one case had been detected. UNICEF Sindh team lead Azeem Khawaja said most sewage samples tested negative, sparking optimism that zero cases could be reached by year-end. PM’s focal person Ayesha Raza Farooq described this phase as the last mile, the most difficult stage of polio eradication.

Vaccination gap in the polio last mile

To cross the final threshold, 95% of children must complete the full three-dose schedule. Each drive targets over 45 million children, yet about 43 million are reached, leaving a gap of roughly 2 million. In February and April campaigns this year, 950,000 and 300,000 children went unvaccinated. Across most drives, 800,000 to 1 million children are typically missed. The gaps come from doors not opened, children away from home, or parental refusals. Reaching every child remains essential to end transmission.

Why this matters for Pakistan polio eradication

Pakistan remains one of only two countries with wild poliovirus transmission not interrupted, the other being Afghanistan. WHO/UNICEF 2024 estimates show 87% coverage for the full three-dose course, 94% for the first dose, and a 7% dropout among starters who do not finish. Transmission falls only when at least 90% complete the schedule. In the last decade, Pakistan reached the last mile in 2017 (eight cases), 2021 (one case), and 2023 (six cases), but progress was followed by new infections. By end-2025 the count rose to 31, signaling the stubborn challenge ahead.

Polio last mile Pakistan demands sustained effort and trust. With continued vaccination campaigns and global support, Pakistan can aim for zero cases by late 2026.