Islamabad: The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the presence of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in sewage samples collected from three districts previously identified as infected areas.
According to Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, the samples, which were collected between June 11 and June 13 from Karachi South, Karachi Korangi, and Dera Bugti, have tested positive for WPV1. All detected samples are genetically linked to the YB3A genetic cluster of WPV1, consistent with all other positive cases and environmental samples reported this year.
This news comes on the heels of a comprehensive polio vaccination campaign conducted last week across 41 districts, from July 1 to July 7, during which more than 8.4 million children under the age of five were vaccinated. This was part of the sixth polio campaign of the year, aimed at eradicating the virus which continues to pose a significant threat to the well-being of children in Pakistan. The Pakistan Polio Programme has emphasized the critical importance of ongoing vaccination efforts, urging parents and caregivers to ensure their children receive the polio vaccine at every opportunity.
Polio is a highly infectious disease that primarily affects children under five years old, leading to paralysis or death in severe cases. While there is no cure for polio, vaccination remains the most effective preventive measure. The ongoing efforts are crucial as Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries in the world where polio is still endemic.