Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate polio have yielded positive results, with a notable decline in environmental detections of the virus, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). However, the virus continues to circulate in certain regions, posing a risk to eradication efforts. In July, 127 sewage samples were collected from 87 districts, with 42 testing positive for poliovirus—a reduction from previous months but still a concern.
Balochistan saw a significant improvement, with only one positive sample in July compared to 15 in January. Similarly, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s positive sites dropped from 14 to seven. However, South KP and parts of Peshawar remain problematic. Punjab and Sindh also recorded fewer detections, while Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan maintained a clean slate with no positive samples this year.
Pakistan’s Polio Programme has conducted six large-scale vaccination campaigns in the past year, including four nationwide drives covering over 45 million children each. These efforts have contributed to fewer polio cases and reduced environmental spread. The next sub-national campaign (Sept 1-7) will target 28 million children in 91 high-risk districts, aiming to further curb transmission.
The NIH emphasized that polio eradication requires community support, urging parents to ensure children receive polio drops and routine immunizations. Misinformation and vaccine hesitancy remain obstacles, but continued vaccination is crucial to preventing paralysis. With sustained efforts, Pakistan moves closer to a polio-free future—but vigilance is key.