QUETTA: 51 union councils in Balochistan have been declared to be at a 'high risk' for polio virus by the Balochistan Polio Emergency Cell.

Provincial Coordinator Emergency Cell Dr Saifur Rehman said environmental samples of polio virus had already been found in the Quetta and Killa Abdullah districts of the province.

In Quetta, the environmental samples were found in Khazai, Western Bypass and other areas of the city, he said.

The Balochistan Health Department (BHD), Unicef and the World Health Organisation are formulating a strategy to launch an anti-polio campaign in the 51 'high risk' union councils, Dr Rehman said.

BHD launched the second phase of its anti-polio campaign in different union councils of Quetta on Monday.

Police and Levies personnel provided security to volunteers and health workers administering polio drops to children below the age of five years.

A polio drive in Quetta last week had been suspended due to lack of security provided to polio teams in the city.

So far three polio cases have been reported in Quetta, Killa Abdullah and the Loralai districts of Balochistan during the current year.

Read more: Quetta anti-polio drive suspended due to lack of security