Pakistan, Sept. 30 -- The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication on Tuesday confirmed a new polio case, fifth of Pakistan this year, from Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The affected child is a 17-month-old girl from Khandar Khankhel Union Council in Tehsil Domel of Bannu district.

Out of the five total cases reported this year, four have emerged from Bannu Division, with three detected in Bannu district alone. Although overall transmission of the poliovirus across the country has declined since 2025, the presence and circulation of the virus in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains a persistent concern.

Officials stated that due to the effective use of the polio vaccine, polio cases in Pakistan have been reduced by 99...