Poliovirus traced in Karachi and Chaman

The Federal Ministry of Health confirmed the discovery of wild poliovirus in environmental samples obtained from Karachi South in Sindh and Chaman in Balochistan province, marking new detections and bringing the total count of wild poliovirus-positive environmental samples to eight.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the ministry spokesperson emphasized the importance of parents allowing polio teams to administer drops to their children during every vaccination campaign. "The most effective method to halt the spread of polio remains through vaccination," the spokesperson stated.

The polio programme ensures vaccination at key transit points for travelers and has comprehensive guidelines in place for vaccinating refugees, he added.

Environmental surveillance, involving the testing of sewage and other samples, plays a vital role in confirming wild poliovirus infections, especially in the absence of paralysis cases.

So far this year, six polio cases had been reported in Pakistan with three in Balochistan, two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one in Sindh.  The recent detections bring the total count of wild poliovirus-positive environmental samples to eight. The significance of these findings underscores the urgency to reinforce vaccination efforts across the country.

In October, Pakistan launched its second nationwide anti-polio campaign of the year, aiming to inoculate 44 million children under the age of 5. This initiative comes amidst the country's strong efforts to eradicate the disease, with caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar urging parents to cooperate with health workers going door-to-door for vaccine administration.