ISLAMABAD: Environ­mental samples collected from 21 districts have tes­ted positive for the presence of polio virus, according to an official of the national polio programme.

As poliovirus surveilla­nce continued in Pakistan, 38 environmental (sewa­­ge) samples collected from 30 districts were tested at the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Erad­ication at the National Ins­titute of Health Islamabad.

The wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) was detec­ted in sewage samples collected from Loralai, Quet­­ta, Zhob, Islamabad, Ab­­bottabad, Bannu, D.I. Khan, Pesha­war, Tank, North Wazir­istan, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Badin, Jam­shoro, Hyder­abad, Kash­more, Karachi East, Kara­chi Malir, Kara­chi Kora­ngi, Karachi South and Sukkur.

Samples collected from Noshki, Sibi, Charsadda, Lower Dir, Mansehra, Swat, Faisalabad, Gujran­wala and Rajanpur tested negative, the official said.

This year, the country has reported eight cases of poliovirus. Two of the cases were reported in three days last month.

Officials have said Pakistan may report frequent cases during the coming weeks and months as the high transmission season has just started. The virus becomes active in high temperatures.

The polio programme is implementing a rigorous vaccination campaign to protect children from paralytic polio and interrupt virus transmission, an official said.

“Due to high-quality ca­­mpaigns since September 2024, polio cases nationwide have declined.”

The next nationwide ca­­mpaign is scheduled from May 26 to June 1, aiming to vaccinate 45.4 million children under the age of five across the country.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2025