NIH confirms polio virus in sewage lines across all four provinces of Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Tackling the Polio virus has been a challenge in Pakistan for years. In a recent report, the Regional Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) has confirmed the presence of polio viral particles in the sewage samples of all four provinces.

According to the sources, the Regional Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) has identified Wild Poliovirus Type 1 in samples collected across 25 districts between February 3 and 12.

In Sindh, 13 districts, including Karachi and Hyderabad, were reported with positive polio results. In addition, five districts in Balochistan including Quetta, as well as three in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Peshawar were identified with positive polio sewage. Four districts in Punjab including Lahore and Rawalpindi tested positive.

The new findings come in the wake of six already identified polio cases this year, including four in Sindh, one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one in Punjab. Last year marked 74 recordings of polio cases, with Balochistan counting up to 27, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa carving 22, and Sindh sealing at 23.

The 2025 Nationwide Polio Campaign By-Nation completed from February 3 to 9 this year was successful in achieving 99% of targets. An estimated 45 million children were given polio vaccine during the campaign.

Pakistan’s Polio Program conducts many mass vaccination rounds every year at the doorstep of children and offers vaccines at health facilities.