ISLAMABAD: The pol­i­ovirus has reached Sindh’s Dadu, a previously uninfected district, taking the total number of districts with virus presence to 52 so far this year.

In the first seven months, nine children have also been infected by the crippling disease.

According to the Regio­nal Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health, sewage samples from one new district and eight previously infected districts have tested positive for wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1).

An official of the polio programme said environmental samples collected from Dadu, Hyderabad, Karachi South, Karachi Cen­tral, Karachi West, Quetta, Loralai, Rawal­pindi and Islamabad contained WPV1.

The official confirmed that the virus has now been reported in 52 districts so far this year.

“It is essential for parents across the country to understand that this virus continues to pose a constant threat to the wellbeing of their children and make sure to open their doors to vaccinators to receive the polio vaccine,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2024