As robust poliovirus surveillance continues in Pakistan, the remaining 24 environmental (sewage) samples for the month of June 2025 were tested this week at the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health, Islamabad.
Of these 24 environmental samples, 13 samples tested negative with no poliovirus found, while 11 samples tested positive.
Environmental surveillance results continue to reflect encouraging progress, particularly in high-risk regions. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, positivity rates have declined from 14 positive ES sites in January to seven in June 2025. Of these seven positive sites in June, four are from South Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Notably, all six sites in Peshawar tested negative for the first time in over two years.
Balochistan also reported a marked reduction, with only four positive ES sites in June, down from 19 in January. In the Quetta Block, six out of seven samples tested negative. In Punjab, the number of districts with positive detections decreased from seven in January to five in June. In Sindh, the number of positive ES sites has also declined compared to previous months. These trends reflect intensified efforts in surveillance and immunization.
The Programme is implementing a rigorous vaccination schedule to protect children from paralytic polio and interrupt virus transmission. Thanks to high-quality campaigns, polio cases and positive environmental samples nationwide have declined.
A special vaccination campaign is scheduled from 14 - 18 July in District Diamer and three districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, targeting a total of 158,497 children. A special vaccination activity in Rawalpindi-Islamabad will also be conducted next week to immunize 161,422 children.
Moreover, a targeted vaccination activity, in the bordering Union Councils with Afghanistan will be conducted from 21 - 25 July, in synchronization with Afghanistan’s sub-national polio campaign, during which 378,122 children will be targeted for vaccination. Additionally, a fractional IPV-OPV campaign will be conducted in seven selected districts of Balochistan from 4 - 11 August, aiming to vaccinate approximately 0.6 million children.
The programme urges all parents to vaccinate their children against polio every time the vaccine is offered. In addition, the government is providing free routine immunization for children to strengthen their immunity. Routine immunization and repeated polio vaccination boost children's immunity and protect them from the crippling poliovirus.
Polio eradication is a shared responsibility. Frontline health workers are going door-to-door delivering life-saving vaccines, but lasting protection begins at home. Parents and caregivers must take action — every polio dose builds stronger immunity. With continued community support and parental commitment, we can stop the virus for good.
If you have any questions about polio or routine immunization, call the Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline at 1166 or send a message on WhatsApp at 0346-7776546.