Health authorities have detected poliovirus in 42 of 127 sewage samples collected from 87 districts nationwide, the country’s polio programme reported on Tuesday, signalling persistent transmission despite an overall decline in detections.
Testing at the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at Islamabad’s National Institute of Health confirmed 75 negative samples, while 10 remain under analysis. Positive samples were identified in Balochistan (1), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (7), Punjab (12), Sindh (19), and Islamabad (3). Additional samples from KP (3), Punjab (4), Islamabad (1), Azad Kashmir (1), and Gilgit Baltistan (1) are still being processed.
Authorities noted that although positive detections have decreased — reflecting the impact of recent high-quality vaccination campaigns — the virus continues to circulate in certain high-risk areas.
Pakistan has recorded 19 polio cases so far in 2025, with 12 originating from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where insecurity, vaccine hesitancy, and operational difficulties hinder eradication efforts.
The next sub-national polio vaccination drive is scheduled for September 1–7, 2025, targeting 28 million children across 91 districts in all provinces and regions.
