• As robust poliovirus surveillance continues in Pakistan, 116 environmental (sewage) samples collected from 82 districts during the month of May were tested at the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health, Islamabad. Moreover, 11 samples are currently under process in the lab.
  • Of the total 116 samples, 69 samples tested negative with no poliovirus found, while 47 samples tested positive.
  • Negative Samples: Samples collected from 15 districts of Punjab, 14 districts of KP, 11 districts of Balochistan, 4 districts of Sindh, 3 districts of AJK, 1 district of GB, and Islamabad tested negative with no poliovirus detected.
  • Positive Samples: The lab confirmed detection of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in sewage samples from 14 districts of Sindh, 8 districts of KP, 6 districts of Balochistan, 4 districts of Punjab, 1 district of GB, and Islamabad
  • The presence of poliovirus in 47 environmental samples across the country is a clear reminder that the virus is still circulating in our communities and poses a serious risk to children's health. Parents must remain vigilant and ensure their children receive repeated doses of the polio vaccine and complete their routine immunization on time to stay protected against polio and other diseases.
  • The Programme is implementing a rigorous vaccination schedule to protect children from paralytic polio and interrupt virus transmission. Thanks to high-quality campaigns since September 2024, polio cases and positive environmental samples nationwide are declining.
  • The third nationwide polio vaccination campaign of 2025 was successfully conducted across the country from 26 May to 1 June, during which more than 45 million children under the age of five were vaccinated against polio.
  • 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 up to fifteen months of age to strengthen their immunity. Routine immunization and repeated polio vaccination boosts children's immunity and protects them from the crippling poliovirus.
  • It is the prime responsibility of parents and community members to ensure that no child in their homes or neighbourhoods is left unvaccinated. Every missed child is at risk and can contribute to the continued spread of the poliovirus. Protecting children from polio is a shared duty and starts with timely vaccination.
  • If you have any questions about polio or routine immunization, call the Sehat Tahaffuz Helpline at 1166 or send a message on WhatsApp at 0346-777-6546.