Environmental surveillance has confirmed the presence of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in sewage samples collected from 18 districts in Pakistan, indicating ongoing transmission risks in these areas.
Affected Districts:
- Balochistan: Chaman
- Islamabad Capital Territory: Islamabad
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: South Waziristan Lower, South Waziristan Upper
- Punjab: Lahore, Dera Ghazi Khan
- Sindh: Badin, Dadu, Hyderabad, Jacobabad, Kambar, Karachi (East, Central, Keamari, West), Shaheed Benazirabad, Sujawal, Sukkur
Conversely, samples from Zhob, Sialkot, Multan, and Rahim Yar Khan tested negative for the virus.
The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme has expanded its environmental surveillance sites from 65 in 2021 to 127 in 2025, enhancing the detection of poliovirus in sewage and ensuring that no transmission goes unnoticed, even in remote areas.
To combat the spread, a nationwide vaccination campaign is scheduled from April 21 to 27, aiming to immunize 45.4 million children under the age of five. This initiative is crucial, as Pakistan has reported six polio cases from Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the first three months of 2025, following 74 cases in 2024.
