Poliovirus detected in five Sindh districts

KARACHI: Poliovirus was detected in five districts of Sindh during August 2026 environmental surveillance, with six positive samples recorded across Karachi and Hyderabad, according to the Sindh Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).

The virus was found in Karachi West, Karachi Korangi, Karachi Central and Karachi South, with one positive sample recorded in each district. Hyderabad recorded two positive samples.

The EOC said the findings showed a substantial contraction in virus circulation compared with 2025, with recent detections concentrated in a limited number of sites.

No recent detection was recorded in Karachi East, Karachi Keamari, Karachi Malir, Ghotki, Sukkur, Jacobabad, Kambar, Larkana, Kashmore, Dadu, Badin, Jamshoro, Sujawal and Mirpurkhas during the reporting period.

The EOC cautioned that a negative environmental sample does not by itself confirm that poliovirus transmission has stopped. It said districts where the virus was not detected were therefore described as having “no recent detection” rather than as having definitively interrupted transmission.

The Pakistan Polio Programme continues to use environmental surveillance and Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance, alongside vaccination activities, to monitor poliovirus circulation and support a timely public health response.

Sindh launches polio campaign

The latest surveillance comes as a polio vaccination campaign began across Sindh on Monday, targeting 2.5 million children under five.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah launched the campaign in Karachi by administering polio drops to children. More than 80,000 workers are taking part in the campaign, which will continue until Sept. 27, according to the Sindh government.

The campaign will cover all 30 districts through door-to-door vaccination in 1,490 union councils. It will be conducted in 23 complete districts and seven partial districts.

Shah said stopping poliovirus transmission by the end of 2027 was an achievable target and urged parents to cooperate with vaccination teams. He also called on religious scholars to support the campaign and asked the public not to pay attention to negative propaganda about polio eradication.

“Polio-free Sindh and Pakistan is our commitment and shared responsibility,” Shah said.