Islamabad: Detection of wild poliovirus in sewage samples across Pakistan has fallen sharply, with only 15 environmental samples testing positive in February 2026, the lowest level recorded since August 2023, according to the latest national surveillance data.
The results show that 111 out of 126 environmental samples collected across the country in February were negative, meaning about 88 percent of the samples showed no presence of the virus, while 12 percent tested positive.
Health officials say the results indicate a significant reduction in virus circulation compared with last year. At the same point in February 2025, about 72 environmental samples were testing positive, while the number has now dropped to just 15 positive samples.
Environmental surveillance, which involves testing sewage from selected sites to detect poliovirus circulation, is considered one of the most sensitive tools for monitoring silent transmission of the virus in communities.
The 15 positive environmental samples reported in February were detected mainly in Sindh, which accounted for nine samples, followed by three in Balochistan, two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and one in Punjab, according to the surveillance data.
Monthly trends also show a steady rise in negative samples over the past year. In January 2025, 54 samples were negative while 72 were positive, but by February 2026 the number of negative samples had increased to 111, indicating a significant reduction in virus circulation across surveillance sites.
Province wise surveillance data show that the number of virus detections has declined in most parts of the country. In Balochistan, which reported some of the highest detections during 2024, environmental positives fell sharply during 2025 and early 2026, with only a few detections recorded in recent months.
In Punjab, where environmental detections were reported sporadically during 2024 and 2025, surveillance data show only one positive environmental sample in February 2026.
Similarly, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has also recorded a decline in virus detection compared with previous months, with two environmental samples testing positive in February.
Sindh continues to report the highest number of positive environmental samples, although the overall trend also shows a reduction compared with the peak transmission period observed during 2024.
So far in 2026, Pakistan has reported only one confirmed polio case, detected in Sindh province, while no cases have been reported from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Balochistan.
Public health experts say that while the sharp decline in environmental positives is encouraging, the continued detection of the virus in sewage indicates that transmission has not been completely interrupted.
They say sustained vaccination coverage among children under five years of age and continued environmental surveillance remain essential to eliminate the virus.
Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan remain the only two countries in the world where transmission of wild poliovirus has not yet been completely stopped.
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