Islamabad [Pakistan], May 6 (ANI): Sewage samples from 18 districts across Pakistan have tested positive for Wild Poliovirus Type 1 (WPV1), according to the country’s National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) for Polio, ARY News reported on Monday.
The findings stem from environmental surveillance conducted by NEOC between April 7 and 17, revealing the persistent presence of the poliovirus in various regions. The contaminated samples were collected from districts across four provinces as well as the Islamabad Capital Territory.
The affected regions include three districts in Balochistan, six districts in Sindh, six districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two districts in Punjab, and one location in Islamabad.
These results highlight ongoing transmission risks in both rural and urban centers despite vaccination efforts.
So far in 2025, Pakistan has reported eight confirmed cases of poliovirus, while 74 cases were recorded throughout 2024. Health experts warn that even a single case of polio is considered a public health emergency due to the virus’s highly contagious nature.
Polio, a crippling and potentially deadly disease, mainly affects children under the age of five and has no cure. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus spreads predominantly through the faecal-oral route or by ingesting contaminated water or food. It multiplies in the intestine and can lead to irreversible paralysis or even death.
Vaccination remains the only effective tool to prevent infection. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine (OPV), along with adherence to the full routine immunization schedule, are essential to build immunity and interrupt transmission.
Health authorities urge parents and guardians to ensure their children—especially those under five—receive all required doses of the vaccine. The detection of poliovirus in environmental samples is a warning sign that undetected cases may exist, and mass immunization efforts are critical to stopping further spread.
Pakistan remains one of the last two countries in the world, alongside Afghanistan, where polio remains endemic.
About The Author
