Officials have confirmed the presence of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in environmental samples collected from sewage lines in 26 districts of Pakistan.
According to information provided by the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH), samples were collected from multiple locations, including Hyderabad, Jacobabad, Jamshoro, and Kambar.
Furthermore, environmental samples containing poliovirus were identified in the districts of Central, East, Keamari, Korangi, Malir, and South in Karachi.
In addition, the following areas reported the presence of poliovirus: Mirpur Khas, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sujawal, Sukkur, Chaman, Loralai, Pishin, Quetta, Zhob, Islamabad, Bajour, Peshawar, Dera Ghazi Khan, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi.
The identification of poliovirus in these environmental samples signifies the ongoing presence of the disease in the specified districts.