ISLAMABAD: Polio­vir­­us has reached two new districts, Dukki and Killa Saifullah, taking the tally for current year to 44 districts.

An embarrassing situation continues for the country as only a day ago it reported that the virus had been found in samples taken from Bahawalpur and Dera Ismail Khan districts.

Besides, four environmental samples for polio have been reported due to which the number of samples, for the current year, has climbed to 172 as compared to 126 samples from 28 districts in 2023.

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Era­dication at the National Institute of Health confirmed the detection of Type-1 Wild Poliovirus in Dukki and Killa Saifullah, said a lab official on condition of anonymity.

“This brings the total count of infected districts for the year 2024 to 44,” he said, adding, “The districts from where positive samples have been repor­ted are Dukki, Killa Saif­ullah, Sibi and Swabi.”

It may be recalled that Sibi and Swabi are already listed as the infected districts.

“If virus is found in the sewage water, the sample is called positive. It is basic parameter to determine the quality of the polio campaigns as it shows that a number of children are being missed out or there are refusals [to vaccination],” he said.

The official blamed poor performance on part of the partners-led programme during the last two seasons of 2022-23 and 2023-24 for the wide immunity gap favouring the virus spread.

According to the Pakistan Polio Programme, it has already conducted four polio vaccination campaigns and is currently conducting a fifth campaign of the year, which is underway in 69 districts since June 3, ahead of the high-travel season of Eid, to vaccinate over 17.1 million children under the age of five in 37 districts as well as select areas of 32 other districts.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Errant ECP
Updated 22 Jan, 2025

Errant ECP

THE ECP has once again earned a detailed reprimand from the Supreme Court. That it still refuses to correct course is ominous
Fast-tracking M6
Updated 22 Jan, 2025

Fast-tracking M6

GRAND infrastructure projects in Pakistan often progress at the pace of a bullock cart rather than a bullet train....
Gwadar airport
Updated 22 Jan, 2025

Gwadar airport

THE air connectivity established by the inauguration of PIA flights between Karachi and Gwadar is a major step...
Trump 2.0
Updated 21 Jan, 2025

Trump 2.0

Few have forgotten how disruptive Trump could be as president. There has been little indication that his 2nd term will be any different.
GB’s status
21 Jan, 2025

GB’s status

THE demand raised by the people of Gilgit-Baltistan for constitutional clarity and provisional provincial status is...
Panda bond
Updated 21 Jan, 2025

Panda bond

ISLAMABAD’S plans to raise $200m from China’s capital markets through the inaugural issue of a Panda bond this...