Wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) has been identified in a sewage sample from the Diamer district in Gilgit-Baltistan, marking a concerning development in Pakistan’s ongoing battle against polio. This detection, confirmed by the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health in Islamabad, highlights the persistent challenge of eradicating the virus in one of the last two countries where polio remains endemic, alongside Afghanistan.
The sample, collected from an environmental site in Diamer, indicates the virus is circulating in the community, posing a risk to unvaccinated children. Pakistan has reported 11 polio cases this year, including a confirmed case in Diamer involving a 23-month-old child who had not received essential early-life vaccinations, despite records of polio drops being administered. Genetic analysis traced the virus strain to Liaquatabad in Karachi, suggesting cross-regional transmission. This is the first time Gilgit-Baltistan, previously considered polio-free, has reported such a finding, raising alarms about the virus’s spread to new areas.
Nationwide, 47 environmental samples across 34 districts, including major cities like Karachi, Peshawar, and Islamabad, have tested positive for WPV1 this year. The Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme has intensified efforts, with a recent campaign vaccinating over 45 million children under five across 159 districts. However, challenges such as vaccine hesitancy and logistical barriers in remote regions like Gilgit-Baltistan persist. Health officials emphasize that repeated doses of the oral polio vaccine are vital to protect children from this incurable, paralytic disease.
Health authorities are now focusing on high-risk areas, integrating polio vaccination with routine immunization programs to boost immunity. The government remains committed to interrupting poliovirus transmission, with the next nationwide campaign scheduled to further strengthen coverage.
The resurgence of polio in Gilgit-Baltistan underscores the need for sustained vigilance and comprehensive vaccination efforts to safeguard children and halt the virus’s spread across Pakistan.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 21st, 2025
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