QUETTA: Pakistan is once again facing the threat of a serious health crisis as Wild Poliovirus Type 1 (WPV1) has been found in 18 districts nationwide, including three from Balochistan.
According to a statement issued by the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) on Monday, positive samples were obtained between April 7 and April 17 during routine environmental surveillance.
These samples were collected from sewage systems in 31 districts, including Quetta, Loralai, and Zhob.
The collected samples were analyzed at the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication located at the National Institute of Health (NIH), which confirmed the presence of WPV1 in samples from Quetta, Loralai, Zhob, Islamabad, Abbottabad, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Peshawar, Tank, North Waziristan, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Badin, Jamshoro, Hyderabad, Kashmore, Karachi, and Sukkur.
In 2024, Pakistan reported 74 confirmed cases of polio, with Balochistan emerging as the most affected region with 27 cases.
Sindh followed with 23, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 22, and one case each from Punjab and Islamabad. So far in 2025, three cases of poliovirus have been reported.
Also Read :LEAs captures smuggling attempt of Indian Narcotic Drugs
Polio is a crippling disease with no known cure, and only routine immunization of children under five can offer effective protection against it.
The NEOC highlighted that the Polio Eradication Programme is rigorously pursuing a vaccination drive aimed at shielding children from the paralyzing virus and halting its transmission.
“Due to high-quality campaigns since September 2024, there has been a notable decline in polio cases nationwide,” the NEOC noted.
It further confirmed that the second national polio vaccination campaign of 2025, held from April 21 to 27, was successfully completed, immunizing 45.4 million children under five.
This achievement was attributed to the collective efforts of frontline polio workers, the Government of Pakistan, law enforcement agencies, healthcare professionals, and the dedication of parents who ensured their children received the vaccine.
The next national campaign is scheduled from May 26 to June 1, targeting another 45.4 million children across the country.
