Samples from Peshawar did not indicate the presence of poliovirus.
According to the polio virology lab at the National Health Institute, samples of sewage water collected from Lahore and Karachi were tested positive for the virus.
The samples taken on April 12, from Lahore’s Main Outfall pumping stations confirmed the presence of poliovirus. Traces of the virus were also discovered in three samples taken from Gadap, Machar Colony, Kahmeso Goth and Gulshan-e-Iqbal in Karachi.
Surprisingly, for the first time in the history of Pakistan, polio has not been discovered in sewage water samples taken from Peshawar.
With more than 90% of the current polio cases in the country genetically linked to Peshawar, it is considered the largest reservoir of endemic poliovirus in the world, according to a report by WHO published earlier this year.
On May 12, two fresh samples collected from children in Karachi and North Waziristan Agency were confirmed as poliovirus type 1, causing a rise in the tally of polio cases for the year to 61.
This tally includes 47 cases from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, nine from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and five from Sindh.
Out of the five cases reported in Sindh this year, three have emerged from Gadap Town. Refusal rate is very high in this area along with the law and order situation which deters workers from visiting each house in the area hampering any efforts towards eradication of the virus.
Correction: In an earlier version of this story, the report was attributed to WHO. The error is regretted.
COMMENTS (39)
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@nero: "Before the world complains about Pakistanis spreading polio, they should realize Pakistan itself victim of polio." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pakistan is always the victim...no matter what. Thats almost an axiom.
Before the world complains about Pakistanis spreading polio, they should realize Pakistan itself victim of polio. Pakistan is the biggest victim of polio and is the front-line ally of the world fighting polio. Pakistan has lost $50 billion due to the polio fight. Unresolved issues like Cashmere and Palestine is causing Pakistani youth to get polio and can only be remedied with more people to people contact, and relaxed trade norms along with a Nuclear deal.
Polio is the next nuclear flashpoint issue in South Asia.
@polpot: "Pakistan is a health hazard for the entire region !!" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ It is also a nuclear hazard and a terrorism hazard.
@Pakistani: "India is a menace to the entire human race…..Now go away!" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Just because ET did not publish my response to you......
@Chachoo..5 cases detected in Karachi...all the affected children are Pathan...
If I'm not mistaken the oral polio vaccine is meant to shed in feces, this is different from the Injectable Polio vaccine that is not used. That's partly the point of the vaccine in that it can spread and result in herd immunity. So finding traces of the virus in sewerage in Karachi and Lahore is probably a good sign that the vaccination is working to that end. Apart from the information provided in this article, it would be good to know exactly what the details are in the WHO report; I.e. Is it live virus or the attenuated virus seen in the vaccine. If anyone has any other ideas/thoughts on this it would be good to hear them!
India should take an immediate step to seal its complete border with Pakistan.
I think neither people or Govt. Of Pak knows anything about polio vaccination. This polio vac. during pulse polio programme Is not to protect the individual or the child from polio. OPV contains attenuated P virus. The disease causing virus is wild polio virus. When we give it in mass, in one day in whole of country , wild virus is replaced by attenuated virus in the children's gut& wild virus is thrown out in stools & get killed bcs it can't survive outside gut. So whole wild virus is killed in the country. Idea of giving OPV to adults is same. So that they don't carry P V in their gut to other country. IPV is of no use for this purpose. It is duty of your health deptt. to educate the people.
Surprisingly, for the first time in the history of Pakistan, polio has not been discovered in sewage water samples taken from Peshawar
Lol, what's so surprising? It's after all the Captain leading from the front with Sehat Ka Insaf unlike some burger kiddos just tweeting about Pakistan must eradicate polio.
Balkanization of Pakistan +++++++++++++++ Soon every province will demand entry documents of other provinces...... One thing will lead to another.
Now the KPK chief minister introduce the entry ban on those coming frequently without polio protection including Imran Khan and his crew. The karachi walas must obtain the entry visa..
Rex Minor
@Chulbul Pandey: Totally agreed the problem is that certain Prov governments and also our FEDERAL gov are reluctant to admit their inability to get rid of polio and hold everyone except themselves for the existence of polio. #sadReality if we dont highlight our faults how are they going to be corrected?
@Chachoo And yet you said nothing against Federal Government who are responsible for FATA. You yourself is confused just like Khawaja Saad Rafique who think FATA is part of KPK.
Yea tu haal hai jahaalat ka
@Chachoo, Mamu and the whole fighting family. Guys, you are all taking this the wrong way. The whole of your country needs to be polio free. Pakistani kids are in grave danger of getting affected by this crippling disease. And here you are - engaging in fresh rounds of region based Tu-Tu-Main-Main... just like a completely dysfunctional family. . Even one kid lost to polio is one too many. Does it matter if the kid is from KP, Lahore or Karachi? Seriously!!!!!
Geo PTI we want KPK a better place in pakistan.
I think Balochistan has been most successful in this.
"Surprisingly, for the first time in the history of Pakistan, polio has not been discovered in sewage water samples taken from Peshawar."
Imran Khan, well done Yours sincerely, A Karachiite!
@chachoo FATA comes under federal govt I guess PML-N holding federal govt....Please correct me if am wrong :)
reading the comments above shows that everybody is defending their province and nobody is thinking as a nation we are doomed as a nation Pakistan God Bless you.
@Ammar: @shahzeb: I bracket both regions as one since same families live on either side and if virus will spread in FATA then KPK will be directly effected as well. So when i refer to KPK then i refer to this whole region. Also 9 Cases are exclusive to KPK region excluding FATA region.
ohooo its fine about Karachi as bad thing their is highlighted..........bur how come Lahore, where saints are ruling
@Chachoo: All hail to your biasedness and extreme ignorance. Go check the records. Out of the 61 cases reported this year, 41 are from FATA which comes under the Federal governement of Nawaz Shareef and he is doing nothing about it. 9 cases are reported from KPK. And for your info WHO conducted the tests, now PTI is not like PMLN to bribe international health organisations. Good luck for the fed governments crash landing!
@chachoo All hail to your ignorance too .Polio Cases are reported from FATA not KP which is under fed government not KP gov so mind the difference and start work in FATA you are also blaming PTI what they did in KP and bala bala Have you ever asked what fed gov did in FATA so far? (4 polio, security ,development,education,health etc etc)
Polio cases found in Fata:::: 47
Kpk::::9
Sindh:::5
Punjab::: 0
So Punjab is most successful in polio eradication campaign so far.
@Chachoo
90% of cases are emerging from FATA region not from KPK.
@aalu: This tally includes 47 cases from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, nine from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and five from Sindh.
Not a Single case of Polio have been detected in Punjab while more than 58 cases detected in KPK. How come Sehat ka Insaaf is successful then??? The above research is totally politically motivated and does not hold ground at all. More than 58 cases are testament to the fact that Immunisation campaign is an utter failure in KPK while Immunisation has a 100 % success rate in Punjab.
Pakistan is a health hazard for the entire region !!
@Mamu: All hail to your ignorance. The Polio virus is non existent in the resident Population of Punjab. The virus detection does not mean that the disease can spread as long as the people are immune with the help of vaccination. Also more than 90 percent of all the cases hail from KPK so what it basically tell us. ?. It depends from where the samples are taken. If 90 percent Cases are emerging from KPK then how come virus is not found there?. Ask the local officials for this blunder in KPK who are covering up..
Okay everyone so Peshawar showing clear progress towards polio eradication. Karachi unable to eradicate and now Lahore threatened. One can have no expectations from Sindh Govt but will the two Mian brothers please wake up now. Sehat ka Insaf worked in Peshawar so now is the time to put your ego aside and replicate it in Punjab. The fight against polio must go across all political lines.
This matter should be dealt on emergency basis, apart from this, there are lot of other viral diseases those are spreading rapidly in our population, their test should be conducted free and Mandatory, such like Hepatitis, and HIV Aids, Because one carrier can infect multiples.
@ironMan!: Spot on. Hard work never goes wasted. The Sehat ka Insaf program proved to be a success in spite of many loss of lives. Punjab Khadim-e-aala should follow the PTI steps.
I want the CM to park the Metro bus with the laptops onboard and do some shows around the sewers in Lahore!!
Oops.....Its now just the opposite. Let us see what Saad Rafiq has to say on this, who claims that Polio virus was coming from KPK. PMLN likes to play blame game, that is all they can do. They do not have the guts to implement Sehat ka Insaf,
Aalat....See the difference the ignorant people. When there is a will there is a way. Imran Khan led the Sehat ka Insaf mission and the result is evident. If you still dont believe him then you are biased. If PTI had the power in other provinces then Polio would have been controlled.
Ouch! the ambassador for Polio. Ms Asifa Bhutto got some work to do now! Sindh Festival wouldn't have helped the cause anyway. Invest in Healthcare Khuda kay liye! .same goes for record making stuntmen - CM Punjab!