Polio virus detection in 47 sites sparks nationwide concern

KARACHI:  The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme has confirmed the presence of the polio virus in 47 environmental samples collected nationwide.

According to an official statement, 116 samples were collected for testing in May 2025, out of which 69 samples tested negative. However, the virus was detected in samples from 34 districts.

The programme further revealed that the virus was found in 14 districts of Sindh, 8 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, six districts of Balochistan and four districts of Punjab. The virus was also found in Islamabad and a district of Gilgit-Baltistan.

According to the programme, all confirmed samples contained the wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1). A total of 47 environmental samples across the country tested positive, raising serious concerns among health authorities.

The widespread detection of the virus is considered a significant public health risk, particularly for children.

The Polio Eradication Programme has urged parents to ensure their children receive repeated doses of polio drops to stay protected from the disease.

Health authorities have termed the presence of the virus in multiple provinces a serious concern, emphasizing the urgent need for parents to ensure repeated vaccination of children to protect them from this life-threatening disease.