QUETTA: Poliovirus has been detected in fresh sewage samples retrieved from Quetta, Pishin and Qila Abdullah, indicating the crippling disease is still endemic in parts of Balochistan.

The Technical Advisory Group (TAG), a global body for polio, has recommended to officials in Balochistan to focus on the Quetta block — comprising Quetta, Pishin and Qila Abdullah which are considered high-risk districts in the province.

Doctors from the World Health Organisation (WHO) collected samples from the sewage of Quetta, Pishin and Qila Abdullah last month for laboratory test.

“The samples were collected from sewage of three areas which proved that poliovirus still exists in the environment of these three districts,” Emergency Operation Centre for Polio sources confirmed.

The Technical Advisory Group directed the authorities concerned to take emergency measures to prevent the spread of the crippling disease.

Quetta block is one of the sensitive areas of the country where the poliovirus is still active.

Three days’ anti-polio campaign is going to run from Oct 24 to 26 in 13 districts of Balochistan.

At least 1,678,857 children below the age of five years will be vaccinated during the campaign.

Published in Dawn October 22nd, 2016