As per local media reports, 71 children, with 40 in Sindh, have succumbed to measles in Pakistan during the initial four months of 2026. Official statistics revealed that Sindh reported the highest number of measles-related deaths at 40, followed by 12 in Punjab, 12 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and four in Balochistan in the same period. Pakistan recorded a total of 4,541 measles cases during this time, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reporting 1,712 cases, Punjab 1,198, Sindh 1,183, Balochistan 17, Islamabad 55, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir 151, and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan 45 cases.
As per sources, Pakistan continues to face challenges with polio, with one case reported in Sindh’s Sujawal in 2026. In 2024, Pakistan reported 74 polio cases, while 31 cases were recorded in 2025. Notably, Sindh accounted for nine polio cases in 2025, with nearly 80% of environmental samples testing positive for the virus. The Sindh Chief Minister highlighted progress in combating polio, noting a reduction in environmental positivity rates to 24%.
Khalid Shafi, from the Pakistan Paediatric Association, emphasized the need to address vaccine hesitancy and raise awareness about polio immunization. He stressed the importance of government efforts in overcoming challenges related to routine immunization. In a tragic incident on April 13, a police constable lost his life, and four others were injured in an attack on a law enforcement party providing security for polio teams in Hangu district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The assailants opened fire on the police party during a vaccination campaign, leading to casualties and prompting a search operation in the area.
