Poliovirus ‘detected’ in Azad Kashmir’s sewage

Poliovirus has been detected in environmental sewage samples from Azad Kashmir, confirming its presence in the region.

According to reports, traces of the virus have been found in sewage samples from 21 districts across Pakistan. With this latest discovery, the total number of positive polio sewage samples in 2025 has reached 47.

Health authorities have confirmed that Wild Polio Virus Type 1 (WPV1) was found in sewage samples collected between January 8 and January 23 from various areas. This marks the second detection of polio in Azad Kashmir in 2025.

The virus has been found in:

Balochistan: Dera Bugti, Hub, Khuzdar, Nushki, Naseerabad, Osta Muhammad, Zhob, and Lasbela.

Punjab: Lahore, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang, Multan, and Rahim Yar Khan.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Peshawar, Charsadda, Swabi, and Tank.

Sindh: Karachi East.

Islamabad and Azad Kashmir: Muzaffarabad.

So far in 2025, one confirmed polio case has been reported in Pakistan.

On February 2, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched a nationwide anti-polio campaign for 2025. He administered polio drops to children under five and reaffirmed his commitment to eradicating polio from Pakistan.

The campaign aims to vaccinate millions of children and protect them from this disease.