The detection of wild poliovirus in environmental samples across several regions of Pakistan has raised fresh concerns about the country’s struggle to eliminate the disease, health officials have said. According to recent surveillance findings, wild poliovirus type 1 has been found in sewage samples collected from numerous districts, indicating that the virus continues to circulate in communities even where no new clinical cases have been officially reported. Environmental surveillance is considered a crucial early warning system for tracking the spread of polio.

Health authorities confirmed that contaminated samples were detected in major urban centres as well as smaller districts across provinces including Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Sindh has reported a particularly high number of positive samples, suggesting persistent transmission risks. The renewed presence of the virus comes amid ongoing challenges such as vaccine hesitancy, refusals by some families, and difficulties in reaching children in remote or high-risk areas. Officials involved in immunisation drives have warned that even small gaps in vaccine coverage can allow the virus to survive and spread.

Pakistan remains one of only two countries in the world where polio is still endemic. Despite decades of nationwide vaccination campaigns, the disease has not been fully eradicated due to a combination of misinformation, security issues, and logistical barriers. Health experts stress that polio has no cure and that vaccination is the only effective means of prevention. They emphasise the need for repeated doses of oral polio vaccine and high immunisation coverage to interrupt transmission.

In response to the latest findings, authorities have called for intensified vaccination campaigns, improved community engagement and stronger efforts to counter vaccine misinformation. Public health officials say sustained commitment and cooperation at all levels are essential to finally eliminate polio from the country. 

This image is taken from BBC.