Pakistan recorded a sharp drop in environmental samples testing positive for poliovirus during the first half of the year, falling to 13.1 percent from 48.1 percent a year earlier, according to the National Emergency Operation Center (NEOC). Health authorities announced the figures, reflecting measurable gains in the nationwide push to interrupt transmission of the paralyzing disease.
Environmental Surveillance and Testing Results
Health authorities collected 127 environmental samples last month as part of routine virus surveillance across the country, according to the NEOC. Out of those collections, 117 samples tested negative for poliovirus, while virus presence was confirmed in 10 samples. The drop in positive environmental samples from 48.1 percent down to 13.1 percent highlights a substantial shift in viral circulation compared to the previous year.
Did you know? Polio is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause irreversible paralysis and death. It has no cure, making repeated doses of oral vaccines the primary defense against infection.
Historical Progress and Current Case Counts
Pakistan has reduced polio cases by 99.8 percent through periodic nationwide vaccination campaigns, dropping from an estimated 20,000 cases in the early 1990s down to 31 cases in 2025, according to NEOC data. Authorities have recorded three cases so far this year. Despite this progress, Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan remain the last two countries worldwide where polio is still endemic.
“Environmental surveillance, vaccination coverage and outreach are being further strengthened to eradicate polio,” the NEOC said in a statement, adding that efforts will continue to ensure the provision of the vaccine to every child across the country.
Challenges: Security Threats and Misinformation
Eradication efforts in Pakistan have faced severe obstacles over the past decade, including militant attacks that have killed hundreds of police officers and health workers involved in the campaign. In addition to security risks, health officials contend with widespread misinformation in rural regions. False claims include assertions that the oral vaccine is a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) plot designed to stop Muslims from having children.
To counter these hurdles, the NEOC emphasized that every child under the age of five must receive polio drops during every anti-polio campaign. The agency called on parents, community leaders, scholars, and doctors to participate fully in the national mission, describing anti-polio vaccinators as national heroes of Pakistan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries are polio still endemic in?
Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries worldwide where polio is still endemic, according to the NEOC.
How many environmental samples tested positive for poliovirus recently?
Out of 127 environmental samples collected last month, 10 samples tested positive, while 117 were declared negative, the NEOC reported.
What is the age requirement for the polio vaccination campaigns in Pakistan?
The NEOC mandates that every child under the age of five must be given polio drops during every anti-polio campaign.
What security and misinformation challenges impact the polio drive?
Militant attacks have killed hundreds of police officers and health workers over the past decade. Rural campaigns also face misinformation, including false claims that the vaccine is a CIA plot.
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