The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme has confirmed the presence of wild poliovirus in environmental samples collected from seven additional districts across the country.
According to a report issued by the Regional Polio Laboratory of the National Institute of Health (NIH) on Saturday, poliovirus was detected in sewage samples gathered between May 8 and May 23 from Gwadar, Quetta, South Waziristan Lower, South Waziristan Upper, Rawalpindi, Larkana, and Mirpurkhas.
In a rare positive development, environmental samples from Lahore and Pishin tested negative for the virus, offering a glimmer of optimism amidst ongoing surveillance efforts.
Officials stated that a total of nine sewage samples were analyzed as part of the environmental surveillance initiative, aimed at assessing the virus’s spread in both urban and rural settlements. The laboratory confirmed that the virus detected in all seven affected districts was Wild Poliovirus Type 1 (WPV1), the strain that remains endemically circulating in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“Continuous detection of poliovirus in sewage confirms silent transmission of the virus in communities and reinforces the urgency of vaccination efforts,” an official from the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) emphasized.
Despite extensive national campaigns, Pakistan remains one of only two countries globally where the virus is still endemic. This year alone, 12 poliovirus cases have been reported nationwide—six from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan.
On Friday, authorities reported the latest case in Bannu district, KP, highlighting the persistent challenges in ensuring full vaccine coverage, particularly in the southern parts of the province where access remains difficult and house-to-house campaigns are often hampered.
Meanwhile, a concerning trend of increasing resistance to vaccination has emerged in urban centers. The EOC in Karachi reported a surge in refusals, with at least 37,711 parents declining to vaccinate their children during the May campaign—an increase from 37,360 in April.
“The refusal rate during the anti-polio campaign remains a constant challenge,” the center noted, attributing this to misinformation and a lack of awareness as key contributing factors. “Polio eradication requires ongoing support and cooperation from parents.”
The government has undertaken multiple immunization drives this year to combat the virus’s spread. Three national campaigns, conducted in February, April, and May, successfully reached over 45 million children with the assistance of approximately 400,000 frontline workers, including 225,000 female vaccinators.
Health officials have pledged to maintain a strong focus on high-risk union councils and are collaborating closely with local leaders, religious scholars, and community influencers to address vaccine hesitancy and ensure no child is left unvaccinated.
Polio, a highly infectious disease caused by the poliovirus, primarily affects children under the age of five. The virus can invade the nervous system, potentially causing irreversible paralysis or even death. While there is no cure, immunization remains the most effective tool for prevention.
Health authorities have reiterated the critical need for public cooperation to eliminate the disease entirely, urging parents to disregard rumors and fears.
“Pakistan has made significant progress in the fight against polio, but the presence of the virus in the environment is a reminder that the battle is far from over,” an NIH official concluded.
