Polio Outbreak: 40 Samples Test Positive in December
ISLAMABAD: In a concerning development, 40 environmental samples from all four provinces and the federal capital tested positive for poliovirus in December 2025. This alarming discovery highlights the ongoing challenge of polio eradication in the region.
According to an official from the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad, 127 sewage samples from 87 districts were analyzed for poliovirus in December. While 87 samples were negative, a staggering 40 tested positive, indicating the presence of the virus in the environment.
The official revealed that 23 samples were collected from Balochistan, with 21 negative and 2 positive. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa contributed 34 samples, of which 26 were negative and 8 positive. Punjab provided 31 samples, with 25 negative and 6 positive. Sindh saw 6 negative and 23 positive samples. In Islamabad, 1 out of 5 samples was positive. Interestingly, all 5 samples from Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan were negative.
The official explained that a positive sample in sewage indicates the presence of the virus, and a child's paralysis caused by the virus is recorded as a positive case. This data is crucial for assessing the success of polio vaccination campaigns. If the virus is detected in sewage, it suggests that the campaign's target was not met, and local children's immunity may be compromised, making them susceptible to the disease.
In 2025, the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, led by the Pakistani government, launched six vaccination campaigns, including five nationwide and one subnational drive, reaching over 45 million children. The first nationwide campaign of 2026 will take place from February 2 to 8, aiming to vaccinate over 45 million children under five in all four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad.
The government emphasizes the importance of routine immunizations and repeated polio vaccinations to strengthen immunity. Parents and caregivers are urged to ensure that children under five receive polio drops during every campaign to protect them from lifelong disability. This comprehensive approach is crucial in the fight against polio, a disease that can have devastating consequences.
