Balochistan reports marked decline with only three polio positive environmental sample sites
Independent Report
QUETTA: A significant decline in the presence of polio virus has been recorded in Balochistan’s environmental samples. In the month of June, the polio virus was confirmed in only three environmental samples.
According to the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, a total of 23 environmental samples were collected from Balochistan in the month of June. Out of these, 17 samples tested negative for the polio virus, while only 3 samples tested positive. The results of the remaining 3 samples are still under process at the National Institute of Health’s Regional Reference Laboratory.
An important development is that all six environmental samples collected from the Quetta block tested negative, while one sample is still under process in the lab. The Quetta block includes high-risk districts for polio such as Quetta, Pishin, Killa Abdullah, and Chaman.
Earlier this year, in January, the polio virus was confirmed in environmental samples from 15 locations across Balochistan. However, according to the programme, no polio case has been reported from Balochistan so far this year.
It may be mentioned here that a total of 102 environmental (sewage) samples collected from 69 districts during the month of June 2025 were tested at the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the NIH, Islamabad. While 25 samples are currently under process in the lab.
Of the total 102 environmental samples, 72 samples tested negative with no poliovirus found, while 30 samples tested positive.
