Poliovirus detected: Water samples from Rawalpindi test positive

CDA on high alert after samples from Dhoke Dalal test positive for polio .

ISLAMABAD:

Days after the Capital Development Authority (CDA) negated the results of World Health Organisation’s tests claiming that poliovirus was found in the capital’s sewage water, environmental samples from Rawalpindi have tested positive for polio — putting authorities in both cities on high alert.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a senior official at the Rawalpindi district health department, who asked not to be named, said two sewerage samples were collected from Rawalpindi, one of which has tested positive for the poliovirus.

Sharing details, the official said that an environment sample collected from Dhoke Dalal tested positive. It was the first positive test in the area in four months. A sample collected from the area in November had also tested positive.

The official further revealed that majority of the people living in the area have moved from different parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Fata.

“We have taken precautionary measures on war-footing and are making efforts to protect all the children under five in the area by vaccinating them,” said the official.

On the other hand, the CDA health department has started taking extra precautions to maintain its polio-free status.

CDA Health Services Director Dr Hasan Orooj believes there is mass movement from Islamabad and Rawalpindi on a daily basis, making it necessary to take precautions to keep the virus from affecting anyone in the capital, he said.

“We will adopt a short interval additional dose strategy to protect children under five in areas that fall under the CDA’s jurisdiction,” he said.

Measles

A 13-day nationwide anti-measles drive is still under way as children living in Balochistan, Fata and Gilgit-Baltistan have yet to be vaccinated against the highly infectious disease.

Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) National Programme Manager Dr Saqlain Ahmad Gilani told The Express Tribune that by the end of this month, the drive will be completed.

“The federal EPI has addressed all issues hindering the drive in FATA, Balochistan and G-B. Their respective health departments have been provided with the required doses of the anti-measles vaccine,” he said.

Gillani further claimed that after successfully carrying out a 13-day anti-measles drive in Sindh, Punjab and Islamabad, no cases have been reported.

“After completion of the countrywide drive, Pakistan will hopefully continue to be measles-free,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12^th, 2015.