Environmental Samples Confirm Polio Virus Presence

APP

Hyderabad: The regional reference laboratory for polio eradication at the National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad has confirmed the detection of poliovirus in environmental samples from Hyderabad and Jamshoro districts this month.

According to the report, an environmental sample was collected on July 1 from the Tulsidas Pumping Station in Hyderabad. The report noted that this marks the 12th positive sample from Hyderabad district this year.

The isolated virus belongs to the YB3A-4B cluster and shows a 99.89% genetic similarity to the virus found in an environmental sample in Karachi East on January 11, 2024.

Another positive sample was collected on July 2 from the Drain KB Feeder in Jamshoro. This is the 5th positive sample from Jamshoro district in 2024. 

The isolated virus also belongs to the YB3A-4B cluster and is genetically linked by 99.77 percent to the virus detected in an environmental sample in Hyderabad on May 6 this year.

Earlier this month, authorities conducted a 7-day polio immunization campaign targeting over 300,000 children. However, more than 21,000 children under the age of 5 were not immunized due to unavailability or refusal by their families.