HYDERABAD, June 30: Contrary to previous reports poliovirus still has a presence in Hyderabad district. Samples taken in June from sewerage lines of Hyderabad have tested positive for the presence of the virus, according to unofficial results of the laboratory in Islamabad where the samples had been sent for analyses.

Samples taken between July 2012 to April 2013 had tested positive for poliovirus and a number of vaccination drives had been organised by the district health department. Health officials had been anxiously expecting a polio-free Hyderabad since samples taken in May had tested negative for poliovirus for the first time since July 2012.

But the sample taken in June tested positive for the presence of poliovirus, confirming the worst fears of health officials.

According to focal person of the district health officer’s focal person Dr Masood Hussain Jafferi, the sample was taken from Tulsidas pumping station which covers six union councils of Hyderabad city, two parts of Hyderabad cantonment, union councils 4,5,6,8,9 and 15, besides parts of Hyderabad cantonment E and F. Second additional deputy commissioner and focal person for polio in Hyderabad, Abid Saleem Qureshi, said that a team of UNICEF and WHO representatives reached Hyderabad on Sunday evening to monitor and guide the health staff in polio-eradication efforts. The representatives would stay here for a week.

He said that though 98 per cent children in Hyderabad district had been vaccinated against polio, there had been 1,010 refusal cases, 5,587 absent cases and 992 zero dose cases in Hyderabad during the vaccination drive in May. He said that most of the refusals came from Pakhtun and Rewari communities who viewed the vaccine as haram.

He said that another vaccination drive would be held across the district between July 1 and 4. He appealed to parents and guardians of children younger than five years to cooperate with health teams and called on religious leaders to help persuade parents to get their children to have the polio vaccine.

Meanwhile district health officer Dr Mir Ahmed Ali Talpur said that he had suggested to the WHO and UNESCO representatives to collect more samples from other places in the district.

Giving details of the drive, Dr Jafferi said that around 284,319 children in Hyderabad district would be vaccinated in 54 union councils. He said 58 medical officers, 182 supervisors, 1,696 health staff including lady health workers would participate in the campaign.