Polio virus detected in sewage of 14 districts across Pakistan

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at Pakistan’s National Institute of Health has once again confirmed the presence of the polio virus in sewage lines across 14 districts in all four provinces.

The National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio has also verified the detection of Wild Poliovirus Type 1 in environmental samples.

According to sources, the laboratory identified the virus in sewage samples collected between February 10 and 18. The results confirmed the presence of Wild Poliovirus Type 1 in multiple districts.

In Sindh, Karachi East and Karachi South tested positive for the virus, while in Balochistan, seven districts, including Quetta, Gwadar, Khuzdar, Naseerabad, Qilla Saifullah, Osta Mohammad, and Kech, were found to have polio-positive sewage.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported positive samples in Abbottabad, Bannu, and Tank, whereas in Punjab, Lahore and Sargodha showed traces of the virus.

This development comes as Pakistan has already reported six polio cases this year, with four cases recorded in Sindh and one each in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. On the other hand, environmental samples from 30 districts have been declared polio-free.

Last year, in 2024, the country recorded a total of 74 polio cases, with one case each reported from Punjab and Islamabad, 27 cases from Balochistan, 22 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 23 from Sindh.

Polio remains a crippling disease with no cure, making vaccination crucial for prevention. Multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and the completion of routine immunization for all children under the age of five are essential to ensure strong immunity against this debilitating illness.