Poliovirus detects in environmental sample from 20 district

KARACHI: The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in environmental (sewage) samples collected from 26 sites across 20 districts in Pakistan.
Sewage samples from the following districts tested positive for WPV1 as of October 31, 2024: Hyderabad, Lahore, Jamshoro, Karachi Central, Kambar, Islamabad, Karachi South, Rawalpindi, Pishin, Lakki Marwat, Mirpurkhas, Karachi East, Karachi Korangi, Noshki, Quetta, Zoab, Peshawar, DI Khan, Attock, and Mianwali. Notably, this marks the first positive environmental sample detected in the districts of Noshki and Mianwali, while other districts have reported virus detections in either humans or sewage samples in the past. These areas are now classified as WPV1-infected, underscoring the ongoing health risks to children across the country.
In response, the Pakistan Polio Programme has launched a nationwide vaccination campaign from October 28, aiming to immunize over 45 million children under five against paralytic polio.
It is crucial for parents and caregivers to ensure that their children receive two drops of the oral polio vaccine during this drive, protecting them from the debilitating effects of polio and supporting Pakistan's efforts toward achieving a polio-free status.