The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at Pakistan’s National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of Wild Poliovirus Type 1 in sewerage samples from 12 districts across three provinces, as reported by ARY News.
The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) verified the presence of poliovirus in environmental samples collected between February 17 and 26.
Affected Regions:
- Punjab: Lahore, Multan, Kasur, Bahawalpur, DG Khan
- Balochistan: Quetta, Sibi, Dera Bugti, Lasbela
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: South Waziristan, Charsadda, Swabi
NEOC officials stated that 127 sewerage samples were collected from various locations across the country for polio virus testing.
Rising Polio Cases in Pakistan
Pakistan has reported six polio cases in 2025, with:
- Four cases from Sindh
- One case from Punjab
- One case from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
In 2024, Pakistan recorded 74 polio cases, including:
- 27 in Balochistan
- 23 in Sindh
- 22 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- One each in Punjab and Islamabad
Global Concern Over Polio
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), polio is a crippling disease with no cure. Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries where polio is still endemic.
Health authorities stress that multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under five years of age are crucial for preventing the disease.