Pakistan Confirms Poliovirus in 42 Sewage Samples Amid Ongoing Eradication Drive

Islamabad – The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has confirmed the presence of poliovirus in 42 out of 117 sewage samples collected from 87 districts across Pakistan in July, raising concerns about the continued circulation of the virus in key regions.

Pakistan, along with Afghanistan, remains one of the last two countries in the world where polio is still endemic. While global eradication campaigns have made significant strides, persistent challenges — including security concerns, misinformation, and reluctance toward vaccination — continue to hinder progress.

Latest NIH Findings Show Mixed Progress

According to the NIH’s Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication, out of 127 sewage samples tested, 75 returned negative results, 42 were positive for poliovirus, and 10 are still undergoing laboratory analysis.

The July findings reveal that 36% of sewage samples tested positive, up from 32% in June, based on NIH data. However, the institute noted that while detections persist, the overall trend reflects gradual improvement thanks to recent high-quality vaccination campaigns.

“The July data shows steady progress in containment, but the virus continues to circulate in certain hotspots,” the NIH stated.

Provincial Breakdown of Positive Samples

• Sindh recorded the highest positivity rate — 19 of 29 samples tested were positive.

• Punjab followed, with 12 positives out of 27 samples.

• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) detected poliovirus in 7 of 31 samples, matching June’s figures but showing a significant drop from 14 positives in January. Of these, three came from southern KP, while Peshawar reported four negative results from six sites.

• Balochistan recorded just one positive sample compared to four in June, with 22 samples testing negative.

• Islamabad reported three positives out of four samples tested.

Pending results include four samples from Punjab, three from KP, and one each from Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). So far, all tested samples from GB and AJK have been negative.

Polio Cases in 2025

As of August 2025, Pakistan has reported 19 polio cases:

• 12 from KP

• 5 from Sindh

• 1 from Punjab

• 1 from GB

Nationwide Vaccination Campaigns

Over the past year, the Pakistan Polio Programme has conducted six high-quality immunisation drives — including four nationwide campaigns — targeting more than 45 million children. These efforts have contributed to a marked reduction in both polio cases and environmental detections.

The next sub-national campaign is scheduled for September 1–7, 2025, aiming to vaccinate 28 million children across 91 districts in all provinces and regions.

Government’s Commitment to Eradication

On July 3, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to eliminate polio, pledging greater coordination with international, provincial, and local health teams to achieve a polio-free status.

In 2024, Pakistan reported 71 cases and detected the virus in around 90 districts, underscoring the need for sustained vigilance.

Why Polio Eradication Remains Urgent

Polio is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause irreversible paralysis and, in severe cases, death. There is no cure; the only effective defense is repeated administration of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) to all children under five during each campaign, alongside the timely completion of routine immunisations.