ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has recorded a significant decline in the polio virus positivity rate in environmental samples, reflecting progress in the country’s ongoing efforts to eradicate the disease, according to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC).
The NEOC reported that 127 environmental samples were collected from across the country during June 2026. Of these, 117 samples tested negative for the poliovirus, while 10 samples were confirmed positive.
According to the NEOC, the number of positive environmental samples detected between January and June 2026 dropped sharply from 369 to 100, indicating a substantial reduction in virus circulation.
Provincial data also showed encouraging results. In Punjab, all 31 environmental samples collected during June tested negative for the poliovirus.
In Sindh, 28 out of 29 samples were found to be negative, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded 30 negative samples out of 34.
Similarly, in Balochistan, 18 of the 23 environmental samples tested negative for the virus.
The NEOC stated that three polio cases have been confirmed in Pakistan so far in 2026.
It added that the environmental positivity rate during the first six months of the year declined significantly from 48.1 percent to 13.1 percent, demonstrating notable progress in the country’s polio eradication campaign.
Officials attributed the improvement to strengthened surveillance, expanded vaccination coverage, and enhanced access to children in high-risk areas.
The NEOC emphasized that environmental surveillance remains a critical component of Pakistan’s strategy to eliminate polio, as testing sewage samples helps detect the presence of the virus even when no clinical cases are reported.
Authorities said efforts are continuing to further strengthen environmental monitoring, improve immunization coverage, and ensure access to every child across the country.
The NEOC urged parents and caregivers to ensure that every child under the age of five receives polio drops during every nationwide vaccination campaign, stressing that repeated vaccination is essential to protect children from the virus and achieve the goal of a polio-free Pakistan.
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