The discovery of fresh polio cases in northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has triggered concern among health authorities, who warned that the virus is spreading silently across several high-risk districts.
According to the latest polio update report on Wednesday, two new cases of wild poliovirus type 1 have been confirmed in the districts of Bannu and North Waziristan, while another case was reported from Sujawal. With these additions, the total number of polio cases reported in Pakistan during 2026 has risen to three.
Health officials also revealed that environmental surveillance has detected presence of the poliovirus in several areas, including Peshawar, Bannu and Waziristan. Out of 34 environmental samples collected in April, seven tested positive for the virus, while results of two samples are still pending.
Experts described Peshawar as the most sensitive district at present after positive environmental samples collected from localities including Hayatabad, Shaheen Town and Yousafabad. Public health specialists warned that the detection of the virus in the provincial capital indicates ongoing silent circulation within urban populations and increases the risk of additional human infections.
Southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have remained a stronghold of the virus for several years. High-risk districts continue to include Bannu, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, North Waziristan and South Waziristan.