Dawn has learnt that the Polio Virology Laboratory at the National Institute of Health is already investigating several cases of acute paralysis reported from Islamabad and other places in the country. - File Photo

Prime Minister’s Special Assistant and Focal Person on Polio Eradication Shahnaz Wazir Ali has warned that the city is at  risk because water samples collected from neighbouring Rawalpindi  have shown presence of polio virus.

Though Islamabad has not had a case for the last three years, the city can have a case anytime with large influx of mobile population emigrating from areas that are polio affected,” she told a meeting with city and WHO officials called on Friday to consider the situation.

Dawn has learnt that the Polio Virology Laboratory at the National Institute of Health is already investigating several cases of acute paralysis reported from Islamabad and other places in the country.

According to sources in the health sector “the laboratory is probing whether the children who are paralysed were affected from the polio virus or not”.

Polio vaccination drive in Islamabad territory is conducted mainly by the Capital Development Authority (CDA). The city saw its last polio case in 2008.

A press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office quoted her directing Chief Commissioner Islamabad Tariq Mahmood Pirzada and Deputy Commissioner Amir Ali Ahmed to ensure that the next polio campaign, starting from January 30, is immaculate and thorough.

WHO representative Dr Nima Abide had expressed concern at the meeting that previous campaigns covered less than 90 per cent of the union councils of Islamabad. “Internationally, only 95 per cent and above coverage is acceptable to provide immunity against polio to a community,” he added.

Ms Wazir Ali asked the local officials to see that Islamabad remained free of polio virus.

Unicef representative Dr Shahab Saqib offered services of social mobilisers to motivate the high risk communities in the rural areas of the city, including mobile populations and brick kiln workers families.

The district health officer of Islamabad and the deputy director health services of the Capital Development Authority informed the meeting in detail about the strategy and logistics of the planned polio campaigns in the rural and urban areas of Islamabad.