Bengaluru, 23 March

Wild poliovirus type 1 has been detected in sewage samples taken from 18 districts across all four provinces of Pakistan. The environmental samples were collected between 21 February and 6 March. The report has been confirmed by the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at Pakistan's National Institutes of Health.

The affected areas include 12 districts in Sindh, two districts each in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one district in Balochistan, and Islamabad. Namely, Islamabad, Chaman, South Waziristan, Dir, Lahore, Dera Ghazi Khan, Badin, Dadu, Hyderabad, Jacobabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sujawal, Qambar, Sukkur, Karachi East, Karachi West, Karachi Central and Kemari.

While most districts tested positive, four areas showed no signs of the virus. This year, Pakistan has already reported six confirmed polio cases. Among these four cases are from Sindh and one each from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. In 2024, 74 cases were reported in the country, with cases mainly in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh.

Counteractively, the first nationwide polio vaccination campaign has been launched in Pakistan. All followed by a partial IPV-OPV polio [injectable polio vaccine] campaign in Quetta and Karachi on 20 and 22 February respectively. Despite repeated warnings, parents who refused vaccination were taken into custody.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Polio is a highly infectious disease that can cause paralysis and even death, with no cure available. However, vaccination is the most effective way to protect children from this crippling disease. Children under the age of 5 are mainly affected by polio. However, anyone of any age who is not vaccinated can be infected with the disease. Multiple doses of oral polio vaccine and completion of routine immunization schedules is essential to provide high immunity against polio.

To combat the resurgence of polio, the Pakistan Polio Programme is running several mass vaccination campaigns each year, with vaccines delivered directly to children's homes. Additionally, the Expanded Programme on Immunisation provides free vaccinations against 12 childhood diseases at health facilities.