Islamabad: The environmental samples collected from 26 districts have confirmed the presence of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in those areas.
A regional reference laboratory official for the eradication of the polio said that wastewater samples were collected from Badin, Ghotki, Hyderabad, Jacobabad, Kambar, Karachi Central, Karachi East, Karachi Korangi, Karachi Malir, Karachi South, Karachi West , Karachi Keamari, Mirpurkhas, Sujawal. , Sukkur, Abbottabad, Bajaur, Di Khan, Lakki Marwat, Peshawar, Chaman, Lorealai, Quetta, Lahore, Finen and Rawalpindi.
The wastewater samples collected from that, Uumerkot, Khairpur, Tando Allah Yar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Noshero Feroze and Lakki Marwat Districts also gave positive for WPV1 last month.
Positive wastewater samples indicate the presence of poliovirus in the area, putting children at risk of contracting paralyzing disease. Pakistan is one of the last two countries in the world, along with Afghanistan, where polyomyelitis remains endemic.
The authorities say that Pakistan has been responding to a “significant resurgence of WPV1”. Last year, the country reported 73 cases of the disease. Of these, 27 are from Baluchistan, 22 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 22 of Sindh and one of Punjab and Islamabad, “he added.
Despite global efforts to eradicate virus, challenges such as safety problems, vaccine vaccine and erroneous information have slowed progress.
This year’s first polio vaccination campaign will begin on Monday and continue for a week.
Last month, experts and global organizations that work in the eradication of polyomyelitis met with federal and provincial government officials in Islamabad to review the eradication program.
The three -day meeting of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) brought together experts from WHO, UNICEF, CDC, Gates Foundation, Rotary International, Gavi and USAID, according to the Pakistan polio eradication program.
The meeting reiterated the commitment to the eradication of polyomyelitis. He said that adequate support for polio equipment and complete immunization coverage, especially in the most affected areas, were crucial to eradicate polyomyelitis in 2025.
Posted in Dawn, February 2, 2025
