Poliovirus detected in 18 districts

ISLAMABAD: Wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) has been detected in sewage samples collected from 18 districts across Pakistan, indicating continued circulation of the virus in several high-risk areas despite intensive eradication efforts, officials confirmed on Sunday.

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), 38 environmental samples were collected between April 7 and April 17 from 31 districts and tested at the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication. The presence of poliovirus was confirmed in samples from Loralai, Quetta, Zhob, Islamabad, Abbottabad, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar, Tank, North Waziristan, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Badin, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Kashmore, Karachi, and Sukkur. However, samples collected from Noshki, Sibi, Charsadda, Lower Dir, Mansehra, Swat, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Rajanpur, and parts of Islamabad tested negative, with no traces of the virus found.

The detection of the poliovirus in major urban centres underscores the need for sustained vigilance and uninterrupted vaccination campaigns. In response, the Polio Eradication Programme has continued to implement a rigorous vaccination strategy. The second nationwide polio campaign of 2025 was held from April 21 to 27, during which 45.4 million children under the age of five were vaccinated across the country. Officials credited this success to the dedication of frontline health workers, the support of law enforcement, health authorities, and the active participation of parents.

The next nationwide campaign is scheduled from May 26 to June 1, to again reach 45.4 million children. Authorities stress that every child must be vaccinated during every round, as repeated doses are essential to building strong immunity against polio. Parents are being urged to ensure that no child is missed.