Pakistan

Crippling disease: Islamabad ‘gets back’ its polio-free status

Fresh sample tests negative, disproving the previous WHO report .

Sehrish Wasif April 03, 2015

CDA Health Director Dr Hassan Orooj expressed reservations over the procedure followed to collect the sewage sample. STOCK IMAGE

ISLAMABAD:

An environmental sample from the capital which had previously tested positive for polio has tested negative after being reexamined at the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) request.

A report issued by the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where the sample was sent for retesting, declared the sample negative, allowing the capital to extend its ten-year polio free status.

The sample, collected by the World Health Organisation (WHO) from the Afghan Basti slum in Sector I-11, tested positive in February this year. The results were challenged by the CDA Health Directorate.

CDA Health Director Dr Hassan Orooj expressed reservations over the procedure followed to collect the sewage sample, specifically that the collection containers used had not been sterilised.

Later on February 11, the CDA supervised the WHO team while collecting a fresh sample from the area to ensure that protocols were followed.

“Polio is a very sensitive issue in Pakistan, so a lot of care is required while carrying out such procedures and reporting such incidents. Even the slightest negligence can affect all past efforts and bring a bad name to the country,” Dr Orooj said, adding that the positive test was a shock for him and his team.

“It was impossible since all anti-polio drives carried out in areas that fell under CDA jurisdiction were up to the mark,” he said.

Third anti-polio drive

The third nation-wide anti-polio drive concluded in the capital on Friday. The anti-polio drive was delayed in the capital due to Pakistan Day security concerns.

According to Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) officials a total of 129, 739 children under the age of five were vaccinated during the campaign out of the 138,449 children targeted.

Meanwhile, 2,360 children missed out the polio vaccination and 75 parental refusals were recorded.

The sources said the most of the children missed were out of town as schools were closed at the time.

“Hopefully, these children will be covered in the 15-day ‘catch up’ activity,” said an official.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2015.