Islamabad, Feb. 1 -- Poliovirus has been detected in environmental samples collected from all four provinces of Pakistan, ARY News reported on Saturday.

This is the first time in 2025 that the virus has been found in environmental samples across the country, ARY News reported citing sources.

Sources revealed that sewage samples collected from January 6 to 15 tested positive for poliovirus in 26 districts. The affected districts include 15 from Sindh, 5 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 3 each from Balochistan and Punjab.

The detection of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in sewage samples is a reason of worry for Pakistan, as it indicates the presence of the virus in the environment, ARY News reported.

In 2024, Pakistan reported 73 polio cases...