Environmental poliovirus detection declines across Pakistan, positivity falls to 13.1pc

Dawn· 14h ago· 4 min read

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has recorded a significant decline in the detection of poliovirus in environmental samples during the first six months of 2026, with the positivity rate dropping from 48.1 per cent during the same period last year to 13.1pc this year. Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq told Dawn that the improvement was the result of a new strategy involving external audits, better team selection, enhanced training and the support of law enforcement agencies. However, a polio expert cautioned that unchecked cross-border movement from Afghanistan remained a major concern, as poliovirus strains linked to Kandahar and Nangarhar had been detected in environmental samples collected from Quetta and Peshawar, respectively. According to data released by the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) for Polio Eradication, 127 environmental samples were collected across the country during June 2026 as part of routine poliovirus surveillance. Of these, 117

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