The detection of the poliovirus in environmental sewage samples from Azad Kashmir has raised concerns. Traces of the virus have been found in 21 districts across Pakistan.
The recent discovery has brought the total number of positive polio sewage samples in 2025 to 47, indicating an ongoing challenge in the country’s battle against polio.
Health officials have confirmed the presence of Wild Polio Virus Type 1 (WPV1) in samples collected from January 8 to January 23. Notably, this marks the second time the virus has been detected in Azad Kashmir this year.
In Balochistan, poliovirus traces were identified in the sewage of eight districts, including Dera Bugti, Hub, Khuzdar, Nushki, Naseerabad, Osta Muhammad, Zhob, and Lasbela. Similarly, in Punjab, the districts of Lahore, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang, Multan, and Rahim Yar Khan reported contaminated sewage samples. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Peshawar, Charsadda, Swabi, Tank, and Karachi East in Sindh, Islamabad, and Muzaffarabad in AJK also showed traces of the virus.
Poliovirus Detected in Karachi and Peshawar Sewage Samples Poliovirus Detected in Karachi and Peshawar Sewage Samples
As of 2025, Pakistan has registered one confirmed case of polio. On February 2, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched a nationwide anti-polio campaign, underscoring his administration’s dedication to eradicating polio. During the campaign’s inauguration, PM Sharif administered polio drops to children under five, symbolizing the government’s commitment to safeguarding the health and future of millions of children nationwide. This initiative reflects a significant effort to eliminate the threat of polio in Pakistan.
