Polio virus prevails in Hyderabad, states report

As health authorities express concern over the contamination of drinking water

HYDERABAD: With an ever increasing number of refusal cases reported during polio immunisation drive perplexing the government, yet another report of National Institute of Health states the presence of polio virus in Hyderabad District's sewage, for fifth consecutive month. District Health Officer Dr Nasreen Memon confirmed the finding on Thursday.

The environmental sample was collected from Tulsidas Pumping Station in Hyderabad, for which the lab test was carried out by health staff, as per World Health Organisation's (WHO) guidelines. According to DHO Memon, genetic sequencing results showed that the virus was present in someone in Hyderabad unlike in February, 2019, when reports said that the virus had traveled from Lahore.

Health authorities have time and again expressed concern over the contamination of drinking water by sewage due to punctured or leaking water pipelines. However, the local government department and Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) do not seem bothered enough to overhaul the pipelines.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2019.