Pakistan has made significant progress in its fight against polio, with the virus now confined to a limited number of areas. Officials say sustained vaccination efforts have sharply reduced both cases and environmental presence of the virus.
National Coordinator for the Polio Eradication Program, Capt (retd) Anwarul Haq, has reported a significant reduction in the spread of the polio virus across Pakistan.
He stated that due to effective vaccination campaigns, only one polio case has been reported so far this year. The case emerged from Sujawal, reflecting a sharp decline compared to previous years.
Highlighting past trends, he said that Pakistan recorded 74 cases in 2020, which dropped to 13 cases by September of that year. The downward trend continued, with 31 cases reported in 2022, mostly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Virus now limited to 15 districts
According to Haq, the presence of the polio virus has now been reduced to environmental samples in just 15 districts across the country. Previously, the virus was detected in environmental samples from 87 districts, indicating a major improvement in containment efforts.
He explained that Pakistan monitors 127 environmental sampling sites across these districts to detect the presence of the virus.
Encouraging results
The coordinator shared detailed regional progress, showing significant improvement across provinces. Punjab has become almost entirely polio-free, with the exception of one location in Lahore where traces of the virus remain.
In Balochistan, the virus is still present in environmental samples from Quetta and Dera Bugti. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has also largely achieved polio-free status, with only two southern districts still reporting traces of the virus.
Sindh has reported the virus in environmental samples from nine districts, while in Karachi, the virus remains in only four out of 12 monitored sites.
Officials credit the success to ongoing and effective nationwide vaccination campaigns, which have significantly reduced both the spread and intensity of the virus.
The sharp decline in cases and environmental detection reflects improved immunisation coverage and monitoring systems.
Path to polio-free Pakistan
Capt (retd) Haq emphasized that achieving a polio-free Pakistan requires sustained effort. He stated that no polio case must be reported for three consecutive years in order for the country to be officially declared polio-free.
Authorities remain focused on maintaining zero-case status and eliminating the virus from remaining environmental hotspots.
With only one reported case this year and a significant drop in affected districts, Pakistan appears to be on track toward eradication. However, officials stress that continued vigilance and vaccination efforts are essential to ensure the virus is completely eliminated.
