Polio virus: Samples test negative for local transmission across country
Most specimens prove negative even when processed through advanced technology
A World Health Organization (WHO) official said poliovirus has not been detected for some months in the country. PHOTO: REUTERS
PESHAWAR:
Efforts to eradicate poliovirus from the country accelerated soon after International Health Regulations (IHR) proposed restriction on movement of Pakistan nationals and made it mandatory for every citizen to carry polio certificates.
Soon after, officials concerned held repeated meetings to prepare strategies to tackle the situation. Authorities planned scheduled as well as unscheduled polio drives and set 2016 as the year of exterminating poliovirus from the country.
The diligence seems to have paid off as officials dealing with polio eradication informed samples collected from different sites across the country were sent to National Institute of Health (NIH) and laboratory results confirmed that reservoirs were free of poliovirus.
Hell-bent
“We have taken control of the local poliovirus since 39 samples have tested negative,” a senior health official dealing with polio eradication campaigns told The Express Tribune.
The official, requesting anonymity, added, “I am sure we are a few steps away from eradicating the local virus altogether.”
He said officials concerned had fixed May 2016 as their target to eradicate the virus which has almost been achieved. However, he reaffirmed there was still a long way to go to declare Pakistan a polio-free country.
He also stated that officials in the country were putting their best efforts to curb local transmission of the virus. He also demanded international community stop flow of the deadly disease from neighbouring countries since a number of cases confirmed the crippling virus had been transmitted to Pakistan from Afghanistan.
“The development has been substantial since progress clearly indicates that free circulation of the virus was at the lowest level, the programme was on its track and soon the job will be finished,” National Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) coordinator for polio eradication programme Dr Rana Safdar told The Express Tribune.
“The samples obtained from 39 sites from across the country in April were found to be negative,” he said, adding, new technology, Bag-Mediated Filtration System (BMFS), was being adopted which was under trial and could not be utilised yet.
A World Health Organization (WHO) official said poliovirus has not been detected for some months in the country and negative reports in environment samples prove it will be eradicated soon.
“We have almost achieved our goal since all 39 samples were proved to be poliovirus free and reservoirs did not transmit it anymore,” focal person on polio eradication Akbar Khan told The Express Tribune.
“We only push them and make strategies for them but the credit goes to foot soldiers who face challenges on sites,” Akbar Khan said, adding, a great deal of work had yet to be accomplished.
How rosy is the picture?
On the other hand, Unicef officials said the results were tested negative using conventional methods, but were tested positive when assessed through advanced technology processing.
When contacted, Unicef team leader for polio eradication in K-P Dr Johar confirmed the reports.
“Yes, it is true samples tested negative while being processed through conventional methods but when BMFS was used, they tested positive,” he told The Express Tribune. He stated BMFS tested positive for the virus in Shaheen Muslim Town in Peshawar and added all other samples from K-P obtained from what they called reservoirs tested negative even on BMFS method.
A total 11 cases of poliovirus have been confirmed in the country in 2016 with maximum cases, six, reported from K-P, four from Sindh and one from Balochistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 28th, 2016.
Efforts to eradicate poliovirus from the country accelerated soon after International Health Regulations (IHR) proposed restriction on movement of Pakistan nationals and made it mandatory for every citizen to carry polio certificates.
Soon after, officials concerned held repeated meetings to prepare strategies to tackle the situation. Authorities planned scheduled as well as unscheduled polio drives and set 2016 as the year of exterminating poliovirus from the country.
The diligence seems to have paid off as officials dealing with polio eradication informed samples collected from different sites across the country were sent to National Institute of Health (NIH) and laboratory results confirmed that reservoirs were free of poliovirus.
Hell-bent
“We have taken control of the local poliovirus since 39 samples have tested negative,” a senior health official dealing with polio eradication campaigns told The Express Tribune.
The official, requesting anonymity, added, “I am sure we are a few steps away from eradicating the local virus altogether.”
He said officials concerned had fixed May 2016 as their target to eradicate the virus which has almost been achieved. However, he reaffirmed there was still a long way to go to declare Pakistan a polio-free country.
He also stated that officials in the country were putting their best efforts to curb local transmission of the virus. He also demanded international community stop flow of the deadly disease from neighbouring countries since a number of cases confirmed the crippling virus had been transmitted to Pakistan from Afghanistan.
“The development has been substantial since progress clearly indicates that free circulation of the virus was at the lowest level, the programme was on its track and soon the job will be finished,” National Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) coordinator for polio eradication programme Dr Rana Safdar told The Express Tribune.
“The samples obtained from 39 sites from across the country in April were found to be negative,” he said, adding, new technology, Bag-Mediated Filtration System (BMFS), was being adopted which was under trial and could not be utilised yet.
A World Health Organization (WHO) official said poliovirus has not been detected for some months in the country and negative reports in environment samples prove it will be eradicated soon.
“We have almost achieved our goal since all 39 samples were proved to be poliovirus free and reservoirs did not transmit it anymore,” focal person on polio eradication Akbar Khan told The Express Tribune.
“We only push them and make strategies for them but the credit goes to foot soldiers who face challenges on sites,” Akbar Khan said, adding, a great deal of work had yet to be accomplished.
How rosy is the picture?
On the other hand, Unicef officials said the results were tested negative using conventional methods, but were tested positive when assessed through advanced technology processing.
When contacted, Unicef team leader for polio eradication in K-P Dr Johar confirmed the reports.
“Yes, it is true samples tested negative while being processed through conventional methods but when BMFS was used, they tested positive,” he told The Express Tribune. He stated BMFS tested positive for the virus in Shaheen Muslim Town in Peshawar and added all other samples from K-P obtained from what they called reservoirs tested negative even on BMFS method.
A total 11 cases of poliovirus have been confirmed in the country in 2016 with maximum cases, six, reported from K-P, four from Sindh and one from Balochistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 28th, 2016.