Poliovirus found in sewage of three districts

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ISLAMABAD:

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the presence of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in environmental samples collected from three districts.

Sewage samples taken from Thatta, Umerkot and Naushahro Feroze on December 23 and 24, 2024, tested positive for WPV1, sparking renewed concerns about the spread of the paralysing disease.

Polio, an incurable disease that causes paralysis, remains a persistent threat.

Experts stress the critical importance of administering multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completing routine vaccination schedules for children under the age of five to ensure high immunity against the virus.

The Pakistan Polio Programme conducts multiple mass vaccination drives each year, delivering the vaccine directly to children at their doorsteps. Meanwhile, the Expanded Programme on Immunisation offers free vaccinations against 12 childhood diseases at health facilities nationwide.

The year's first polio vaccination campaign is scheduled to run from February 3 to February 9 across the country.

Parents are urged to ensure that all their children under the age of five are vaccinated during this crucial campaign to keep them protected against this debilitating disease.