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Poliovirus Found in 40 Pakistan Sewage Samples; Vaccination Drive Set

Poliovirus was detected in environmental sewage samples from 40 districts across Pakistan in December 2025. While the persistent detection is a concern, reported cases dropped significantly from 74 in 2024 to 31 in 2025. A major setback occurred in Hyderabad, where over 12,000 children were missed in the last campaign and the virus was detected for the 11th consecutive time. A new nationwide vaccination campaign is scheduled for February 2026 to immunize over 45 million children under five.

Key Points: Poliovirus in 40 Pakistan Sewage Samples, Cases Decline

  • 40 sewage samples positive for poliovirus
  • 31 cases reported in 2025, down from 74
  • Next vaccination drive targets 45M children
  • Over 12,000 children missed vaccines in Hyderabad
  • Virus circulation shows declining trend
2 min read

Poliovirus detected in 40 sewage samples across Pakistan in December 2025

Poliovirus detected in 40 sewage samples across Pakistan in Dec 2025, though cases fell. New vaccination campaign aims for 45M children.

"40 samples tested positive for poliovirus, while 87 were declared negative - Pakistan Polio Eradication Program"

Islamabad, Jan 18

Poliovirus has been detected in sewage samples from 40 districts across Pakistan, according to test results from the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health.

In a statement issued this week, the Pakistan Polio Eradication Program said environmental samples were collected in December 2025 from multiple locations nationwide, confirming the presence of poliovirus in several areas, reports Xinhua news agency.

"A total of 127 environmental samples were collected from 87 districts during this period. Of these, 40 samples tested positive for poliovirus, while 87 were declared negative," the statement said.

The statement noted that while the continued detection of poliovirus in sewage remains a concern, overall trends show a decline in virus circulation compared to previous years, reflecting the impact of sustained vaccination and surveillance efforts.

According to the program, Pakistan reported 31 poliovirus cases in 2025, a significant drop from 74 cases recorded in 2024.

The next nationwide anti-polio vaccination campaign is scheduled to be held from February 2 to 8, 2026, aiming to vaccinate more than 45 million children under the age of five across the country.

At the start of this year, local media reported that the Hyderabad region of Pakistan's Sindh has not been able to achieve polio-free status in 2025, with over 12,000 children missing vaccination during the final nationwide campaign in 2025.

Continuous indifference by health department officials has once again affected efforts to eliminate polio from the district, according to official sources.

As many as 12,092 children aged below the age of five were left unvaccinated even after the last nationwide anti-polio campaign was conducted in 2025 amid the confirmed presence of the virus, Pakistan's leading daily, The Express Tribune, reported.

Health officials said that Hyderabad reported the presence of poliovirus for the 11th consecutive time in 2025. Based on environmental sewage samples collected in Pakistan, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad, revealed that Wild Poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) was detected in Hyderabad during November, similar to several other cities across the country.

According to the report, the persistent presence of the poliovirus poses a threat to the health of children and parents were asked to remain vigilant and ensure repeated doses of the polio vaccine for their children and complete immunisation schedules on time to protect them from polio and other preventable diseases.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The drop from 74 to 31 cases is good progress, no doubt. But 40 positive sewage samples is still a huge number. It shows the virus is circulating widely. The real issue seems to be on-ground implementation, like in Hyderabad where 12,000 kids were missed. That's a systemic failure.
D
David E
Working in public health, I know how hard eradication is. India's success story wasn't easy. It requires relentless effort and community trust. The "continuous indifference by officials" mentioned is the most worrying part. You can have all the vaccines, but without committed workers, it fails.
A
Aman W
As a parent, this scares me. We just can't be complacent. We must ensure our own children's polio doses are complete on time. It's a reminder of how important those vaccination booths and health workers are. Kudos to India for staying polio-free, but we must protect that status.
S
Sneha F
The article says the trend is declining, which is positive. But 11 consecutive detections in Hyderabad? That's not a trend, that's a persistent outbreak. The focus needs to be on these specific high-risk zones. Maybe India's experience with UP and Bihar can offer some lessons in community mobilization.
K
Karthik V
It's a health issue, first and foremost. Every child deserves protection. I hope the February campaign is a success. Eradication in our region is crucial for everyone's safety. Let's hope for the best.

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