QUETTA: In a significant setback to eradication efforts, health authorities have confirmed the detection of the wild poliovirus in environmental samples from across Pakistan, triggering an urgent nationwide immunization campaign set for next month.
Laboratory tests on 127 sewage samples collected in December 2025 revealed 40 positive results, indicating widespread environmental circulation of the virus. The provincial breakdown paints a concerning picture: Sindh is the epicenter with 23 positive samples, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (8), Punjab (6), and Balochistan (2). Islamabad reported one positive sample among five collected. Notably, samples from Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan tested negative.
Confronted with this persistent transmission, the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) has announced a decisive response—a nationwide polio vaccination campaign from February 2 to 8. The campaign represents one of the largest public health mobilizations of the year, aiming to vaccinate over 45 million children under five against the paralyzing virus.
To execute this mission, health authorities will deploy a vast workforce of more than 400,000 polio workers, including frontline vaccinators and monitors, who will go door-to-door to ensure comprehensive coverage. The campaign’s success is critical to interrupting the virus’s chain of transmission, particularly in high-risk districts identified by the surveillance data.
“This environmental detection is a clear warning that the virus is still circulating and seeking out unprotected children,” stated a senior health official. “The upcoming campaign is our shield. We urge all parents and caregivers to ensure every eligible child receives these life-saving drops.”
Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries where wild poliovirus is still endemic. While case numbers have plummeted from thousands annually to a handful in recent years, positive environmental samples signal ongoing transmission, underscoring the need for relentless vaccination efforts and strong community engagement to achieve final eradication.
