Pakistan reported a significant increase in wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) environmental samples, raising concerns about the virus’ continued circulation. While no new cases of WPV1 were recorded this week, 41 positive samples were discovered across the nation, bringing the total for 2025 to 401.
Sindh province led with 18 positive samples, followed by Punjab with nine, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with seven. Balochistan registered four positive samples, Islamabad two, and Azad Kashmir one. The samples were collected between June 2nd and 20th. This year, Pakistan has recorded 14 WPV1 cases compared to 74 in 2024. Globally, WPV1 cases for 2025 stand at 16, including two from Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, Yemen is grappling with circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). Seven new cases were reported this week, all from Sanaa City province, increasing the 2024 count to 60. The cVDPV2 cases for 2025 remain at six globally, distributed across Djibouti, Sudan, and Yemen.
Sudan also reported a new cVDPV2 environmental sample from West Darfur province, collected on April 16th. The global count of cVDPV2 isolates from environmental samples this year is 27, while the 2024 figure stands at 49. The information is derived from the latest World Health Organization”s EMR Polio Bulletin.