ISLAMABAD: Environ­mental samples collected from four more cities have been found positive for polio virus, a week after samples collected from Hub, Lahore and Peshawar had been found positive.

Sources in Pakistan’s National Polio Laboratory at the National Institute of Health (NIH) said the lab has confirmed the detection of Type-1 Wild Poliovirus (WPV1) in four environmental (sewage) samples collected from Karachi, Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Chaman.

“The genome sequencing of the virus, found in samples collected from all cities showed that it belonged to Afghanistan,” an official of the lab said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health Dr Nadeem Jan has expressed concern over the detection of the virus in environmental samples and directed officials concerned to take all possible steps to protect children from the virus of the crippling disease.

“So far 43 samples have been found positive in the country which is concerning. Pakistan has the most effective surveillance system and it has been working effectively,” Dr Jan said.

He said a campaign will be launched in November to vaccinate children in the areas where the virus has been found.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2023

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

WITH the situation in KP’s Kurram tribal district already volatile for the past several months, the murderous...
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

PAKISTAN has now registered 50 polio cases this year. We all saw it coming and yet there was nothing we could do to...
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...