Poliovirus detected in environmental samples

Presence of the poliovirus confirmed in five districts across country

ISLAMABAD:

The presence of the poliovirus has been confirmed in environmental samples collected from five districts across the country, raising concerns over the resurgence of the debilitating disease.

Samples analysed at the anti-polio laboratory established in the National Institute of Health (NIH) revealed the presence of the virus.

The specimens from Kemari in Karachi, gathered between March 4 and 5, exhibited poliovirus contamination. Among these, two environmental samples from Hyderabad, Multan, Quetta, and Faisalabad respectively also tested positive for the virus.

The identified strain, known as poliovirus genetic cluster YB3A, had been eradicated from Pakistan in 2021 but resurfaced after crossing the border from Afghanistan into Pakistan in January 2023.

Federal Secretary Health Iftikhar Ali Shallwani said the virus was so severe that it could potentially cause lifelong disability in children. He stressed the critical importance of administering multiple doses of the polio vaccine to children to safeguard against the disease.

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He urged parents to cooperate with polio workers and ensure their children receive both the vaccine and complete their immunisation course. This, he highlighted, strengthens their immunity against the infection.

The Pakistan Polio Eradication Program has launched extensive vaccination campaigns, covering over 43 million children under the age of five in January and exceeding 45 million children in February.

As part of ongoing efforts, more than 80 million children are slated for vaccination across 26 districts starting March 25, with further campaigns planned for April.

Despite vaccination initiatives, the country has reported two polio cases and detected 71 positive environmental samples thus far in the current year.