Poliovirus Detected in Six Districts

News Desk

Islamabad: Pakistan’s fight against polio faces a new challenge as the Ministry of Health has confirmed the presence of nine environmental samples, collected from six districts, that have been tested positive for wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1).

The Ministry of Health spokesperson informed me that four samples were from Karachi and two were from Chaman. While one sample has been found each from Peshawar, Kohat, and Nowshera

He said that the all-isolated virus belongs to the YB3A virus cluster in Afghanistan.

Health Federal Minister Dr Nadeem Jan said that the government is ensuring measures to eradicate polio on a coordinated basis.

Dr Nadeem requests that parents’ welcome polio workers coming to their homes and take polio drops to their children under five to protect them from lifelong disability.

There is no cure for polio, and only vaccines protect children, he added.

The minister further said that the polio surveillance system in Pakistan is working effectively, and the proof of this is the immediate confirmation of the presence of the virus.