Polio virus found in 20 sewage samples across Pakistan

KARACHI: There are alarming indications of the emergence of poliovirus in Pakistan, as environmental testing has now proven that the Wild Poliovirus Type 1  (WPV1) is present in 25 sewage samples collected from 20 districts.

The samples collected from 5 to 19 March represented contamination of the wastewater in three provinces: Balochistan, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In  Balochistan, several areas were tested positive including Quetta, Kech, Khuzdar, Lasbela, Pishin, Loralai, Dakki, Naseerabad, including Osta Muhammad.

In Punjab: Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, D.G.Khan and Rahim Yar Khan resulted in positive polio virus.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Peshawar, Bannu, Kohat, Lakki Marwat, South Waziristan, and Lower Dir. This is the 13th detection of the poliovirus in environmental samples this year, and there are over 150 positive samples already reported.

Yet, there are 35 sewage samples reported from 31 districts that were found to be negative for the virus. So far this year, Pakistan has reported six confirmed polio cases (in 2025), four of which were reported in Sindh and a recent case reported from Thatta.

In 2024, Pakistan reported a total of 74 polio cases. ¹The discovery of the poliovirus in sewage is a reminder for continued vigilance and a need for vaccination.

Health experts emphasize that vaccination is the most effective way to protect children from this debilitating disease. Given that the poliovirus is present in Pakistan and Afghanistan, health officials encourage cross-border collaboration for the eradication of polio.