FAISALABAD: For a third time this year, polio virus has been detected in Faisalabad, says District Health Officer Dr Asif.

Earlier, in January and February polio virus was detected in Faisalabad. The virus strain of January was linked to Lahore and of February to Rawalpindi.

Dr Asif told reporters on Wednesday the samples collected from D Type Colony sewerage system in July had tested positive for polio but their strain had yet to be established. In the past, the virus carrier belonged to other areas.

Earlier, he said, the virus had been detected from the affluent obtained from the Achkera pumping station this year. He said since 2010, seven times polio virus had been detected in environmental samples of Faisalabad. The health authorities of Faisalabad send environmental samples twice a month to the main laboratory in Islamabad.

He said polio virus had no circulation in Faisalabad like Lahore. An anti-polio drive started on Aug 19 would conclude on Aug 29.

Dr Asif said the health department was monitoring the D-Type Colony to ascertain the source of virus.

He said detection of as many as 58 cases in Pakistan was an alarming situation and government had launched polio drive in 46 districts and from Punjab only Lahore had been selected in this regard.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2019