Poliovirus in sewage of 8 districts indicates continued transmission

ISLAMABAD: Wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) has been detected in environmental samples collected from eight districts across Pakistan, raising concerns about the continued transmission of the virus and its threat to children.

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health confirmed the findings based on samples collected between November 5 and 20, 2024.

The affected districts include Charsadda, DI Khan, Rawalpindi, Kambar, Jamshoro, Killa Saifullah, Barkhan, and Mastung.

Notably, this marks the first positive detection from Charsadda this year, which borders Peshawar — a district that has seen persistent WPV1 in its sewage for several months.

The other seven districts have previously reported virus presence, highlighting the challenges of containing the disease in endemic areas.

So far, 63 polio cases have been reported across Pakistan this year, indicating a resurgence of the virus.

The alarming detection of WPV1 in multiple districts underscores the urgent need to protect children from a disease that causes irreversible paralysis but is entirely preventable through vaccination.

The National Polio Programme is launching a nationwide vaccination drive from December 16 to 22, targeting over 44 million children under five years of age in 143 districts. The oral polio vaccine (OPV) will be administered door-to-door by vaccinators to ensure maximum coverage. “Polio is incurable, but it is entirely preventable through the timely administration of multiple doses of OPV,” said a spokesperson for the Polio Programme.

In addition to the OPV campaigns, routine immunization against 12 preventable childhood diseases, offered free through the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), provides an essential immunity boost.

Health authorities have urged parents to ensure their children receive two drops of OPV whenever vaccinators visit their homes. “Parents and caregivers must cooperate with vaccination teams to protect children from this devastating disease,” the spokesperson added.

Polio resurgence remains a pressing public health concern in Pakistan, one of only two countries in the world still battling wild poliovirus. Authorities are calling for collective efforts to bridge immunization gaps and eliminate the virus from the country for good.