Alarm as three samples test positive for polio

Three out of five environmental samples collected during the recent anti-polio campaign tested positive for the polio virus, highlighting the continued presence of the disease in the district.

In response, health officials have announced a new anti-polio campaign in April, with a special focus on vaccinating children from migrant families to curb the virus's spread.

Despite this concerning development, the seven-day anti-polio campaign conducted from February 3 to 9 successfully met its target, administering polio drops to 1,038,000 children and achieving a 100% coverage rate.

To ensure accessibility, mobile teams, fixed centres, and transit vaccination points were deployed across the district, and teams were closely monitored throughout the campaign. During the campaign, 499 cases of parental refusals were reported, 99% of these were later resolved.

Prime Minister's Focal Person for Polio, Senator Dr Ayesha Raza Farooq, launched the initiative in the Kotha Kalan area. Following the campaign, environmental samples were analyzed, revealing two negative and three positive results for the polio virus.

District Health Authority CEO, Dr Asif Arbab Niazi, confirmed the campaign's success, stating that 494 out of 499 refusal cases had been addressed.