Several distrcts of Punjab have been found at risk of polio after the virus was detected in environmental samples from various areas.
According to sources, the districts include Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang, Sargodha and Mandi Bahauddin.
The sources said 36 of 81 samples had tested positive, raising the positivity rate to 44 per cent as compared to 25 per cent last year and two pet cent in 2023.
The poliovirus was detected in recent weeks in samples from localities in Kasur, Sargodha and Rawalpindi districts.
The sources said sewerage water samples from 16 of the 22 union councils in Sargodha had tested positive for poliovirus last week.
After the alarming poliovirus detection, the EOC has started a 20-day vaccination drive during Ramazan and Eid holidays.
Under the plan of the vaccination campgain scheduled till April 10, special transit points have been set up to prevent the spread of polio.
The vaccination will continue during the Eid holidays.
High risk transit points have been identified in Lahore and other districts under scrutiny to prevent the spread of the virus during Eid travel.
The provincial authorities have set up 31 environmental sampling sites and declared 12 distrcits in the province at risk of poliovirus.
An official of the National Institute of Health (NIH) said, "The regional laboratory has already detected wild poliovirus type one (WPV 1) in samples from Lahore, Multan, Kasur, Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan of sewarage water."
The official said these districts would be especially focused during the polio vaccination campaigns in coming months.
An official of the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) said a strategy was being prepared for the districts deemed at risk because the detection of poliovirus in Kasur, Sargodha and Rawalpindi districts was a matter of concern.
One polio case has been reported in Punjab so far this year, from the Chakwal district.
"Although the detection of the virus in environmental samples is a matter of concern, the polio workers are satisfied that our hard work in past years has resulted in maximum vaccination in the province.
Vaccination is the only way to protect your children from polio, so the parents should give them polio drops fur no the campaigns," said a lady health worker, Asma Khan.
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