ISLAMABAD: Fourteen environmental samples have tested positive for wild poliovirus in the country.
According to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Health, the virus was isolated from three sewage samples.
These samples were collected between December 4 and 13 from Peshawar, two from Hyderabad, two from Karachi East, and one sample each from Karachi Central, Karachi Keamari, Karachi West, Sukkur, Quetta, Kohat and Islamabad.
He said that only regular immunization can protect children from poliovirus. He urged parents to administer anti-polio drops to their children during every polio vaccination campaign.
Earlier, Coordinator Emergency Operation Centre of Balochistan Syed Zahid Shah has said that a 7-day Anti-Polio drive will start in the entire province from January 8 (Monday). During the campaign, a target number of 2.6 million children will be vaccinated. He made this announcement in an issued statement. Syed Zahid Shah mentioned, “Since 2021, not a single case of Polio has been reported in Balochistan, but it is noteworthy that the virus is detected in the environmental samples of five districts. –Agencies
