The Ministry of Health in Zambia has confirmed that poliovirus type 2 was detected from an environmental sample collected in Lusaka District, following routine surveillance conducted in collaboration with local and international health partners.

Zambia's Acting Minister of Health Cornelius Mweetwa said laboratory analysis verified the presence of the virus, signaling active circulation within the community despite no confirmed cases of paralysis so far.

The ministry further noted that this development is considered a serious public health concern, particularly as the Southern Africa sub-region remains on high alert after recent poliovirus detections in Malawi linked to previous transmission in Zimbabwe. 

Mweetwa stated that it matches a strain previously detected in Namibia and linked to Angola, indicating ongoing regional transmission.

The government has since activated emergency measures, including intensified surveillance, enhanced community sensitisation, and planned vaccination campaigns targeting high-risk children regardless of prior immunisation status, as well as strengthening routine immunisation services to prevent potential outbreaks.