Majority of Environmental Samples in Pakistan Test Negative for Polio Virus in 2026

Islamabad: A majority of environmental samples collected across Pakistan this year have tested negative for the poliovirus, health authorities confirmed, describing it as a significant development in the country’s ongoing eradication efforts.

According to officials, in January 2026, environmental samples from 67 out of 87 districts showed no presence of the poliovirus. Out of 127 sampling sites nationwide, only 24 tested positive. Authorities noted that this marks the lowest positivity rate in environmental samples since October 2023.

All environmental samples collected from Punjab, Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan were reported polio-free.

However, the virus was detected in Balochistan’s districts of Dera Bugti and Kech, while four environmental samples tested positive in southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In Sindh, most positive samples were reported from Karachi and adjoining areas, though four sampling sites in Karachi tested negative after a prolonged period of detection.

Officials emphasized that environmental surveillance remains an effective tool for the early detection of poliovirus circulation. They also revealed that approximately one million children missed vaccination during recent polio campaigns, largely due to vaccine refusals fueled by misinformation circulating on social media.

Pakistan remains one of the few countries in the world where polio transmission has not yet been completely eradicated. Authorities reiterated their commitment to intensifying vaccination and awareness campaigns to eliminate the virus nationwide.