Poliovirus Found in Sewage of 7 Districts, NIH Warns of Silent Spread

News Desk

Islamabad: The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme has confirmed the presence of wild poliovirus in environmental samples collected from seven districts, raising renewed concerns about the virus’s silent circulation in communities across the country.

According to a report issued by the Regional Polio Laboratory at the National Institute of Health (NIH), the samples — collected between May 8 and May 23 — tested positive for wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), the strain that remains endemic in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The affected districts include Gwadar, Quetta, South Waziristan Lower, South Waziristan Upper, Rawalpindi, Larkana, and Mirpurkhas.

Conversely, environmental samples from Lahore and Pishin tested negative, offering a rare sign of progress in some areas.

Health officials said nine sewage samples were analyzed during this surveillance period to monitor poliovirus circulation in both urban and rural areas. The continuous detection of the virus in wastewater confirms its silent transmission within communities, despite the absence of reported clinical cases in some regions.

“Persistent virus presence in sewage highlights the urgency of sustained vaccination campaigns,” said an official from the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). “It underscores the need for every child to be vaccinated.”

Despite rigorous nationwide immunisation drives, Pakistan remains one of only two countries where polio remains endemic. So far this year, 12 polio cases have been reported — six from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, four from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan. The most recent case was reported from Bannu district in KP, where vaccine access remains challenging due to security concerns and logistical constraints.

Resistance to vaccination is also increasing in urban areas. In Karachi alone, over 37,700 parents refused to vaccinate their children during the May campaign — a slight increase from April’s figures. EOC officials cited misinformation and vaccine myths as major drivers of refusals.

“The refusal rate continues to be a serious hurdle,” an EOC spokesperson said. “We urge parents to trust medical experts and ensure their children are protected.”

This year, the government has conducted three national immunisation drives — in February, April, and May — reaching more than 45 million children across the country. These efforts involved around 400,000 frontline workers, including 225,000 female vaccinators.

Health authorities are prioritising high-risk union councils and working closely with community leaders, religious scholars, and influencers to combat misinformation and boost vaccine acceptance.

Polio is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects children under five, potentially causing lifelong paralysis or death. While there is no cure, vaccination is the most effective means of protection.

NIH officials stressed that while Pakistan has made progress toward polio eradication, the recent environmental findings show the country must remain vigilant.

“The presence of poliovirus in sewage serves as a stark reminder that the fight is not over,” the NIH said, urging continued public cooperation to eliminate the disease.