Poliovirus detected in 12 samples

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) has confirmed detection of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in sewage samples of 12 cities.

According to official sources, 15 environmental (sewage) samples were collected from 14 districts between February 17 and February 26 and were tested at the NIH lab during the past week.

The samples from Multan, Bahawalpur, Lahore, D.G.Khan, Kasur, Dera Bugti, Lasbela, Quetta, Sibi, South Waziristan Lower, Charsadda and Swabi were tested positive while samples from D.I.Khan, South Waziristan Lower and North Waziristan tested negative for poliovirus.

They said that Pakistan's polio surveillance is among the world's best, with the largest and most sensitive detection system.

They said that the program has expanded its environmental surveillance sites from 65 in 2021 to 127 in 2025.