Poliovirus detection sets off alarm bells
The consistent recurrence of poliovirus in environmental samples has set off alarm bells in Rawalpindi, prompting the District Health Authority (DHA) to reach out to international stakeholders to cope with the challenge.
The health authority has engaged with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to address the issue, attributing the situation to families arriving from Afghanistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
To tackle this challenge, the DHA has also sought assistance from the Islamabad administration in implementing an anti-polio campaign at the entry points of Rawalpindi. The aim is to ensure that families entering the area without polio vaccination will not be permitted.
Despite regular efforts to complete anti-polio campaigns in Rawalpindi, the recurring detection of poliovirus in environmental samples every two months has raised concerns.
In response, a joint meeting involving expert teams from DHA, WHO, and UNICEF was convened to address the issue.
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The DHA Chief Executive Officer Dr Ijaz Ahmed presented an assessment report during the meeting, concluding that the locals are not responsible for the presence of the poliovirus in environmental samples. Instead, families entering Rawalpindi from Afghanistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are identified as carriers of the virus.
The meeting emphasised the joint recommendation of DHA, WHO, and UNICEF, proposing that polio vaccines be administered to children and families arriving from Afghanistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the common entry points of Rawalpindi Islamabad. Additionally, the females in these families should undergo necessary tests to protect them from polio, accompanied by appropriate instructions.
Dr Ijaz Ahmed highlighted that while Rawalpindi is considered a polio-free district, the repeated confirmation of the virus in environmental samples demands urgent attention. “The focus now is on eliminating the causes behind the presence of the poliovirus in environmental samples, ensuring the effectiveness of the anti-polio campaign reaches 100%.”
Moreover, the detection of poliovirus in environmental samples every two months has sent raised questions about the efficiency of polio drives in eradicating the crippling disease.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 26th, 2024.