ISLAMABAD: Three environmental samples collected from cities in Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been found positive for poliovirus.

According to sources in Pakistan’s National Polio Laboratory at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Type-1 Wild Poliovirus (WPV1) was detected in sewage samples collected from Hub, Lahore and Peshawar.

“The genome sequencing of the virus, found in samples collected from Peshawar and Hub, showed that it belonged to Afghanistan. However, the process of genome sequencing of the sample, collected from Lahore, is yet to be completed,” an NIH lab official said.

He added that sewage samples collected from an area are a basic parameter to determine the success of polio campaigns. The virus’ presence in sewage also shows that the immunity level of children in the area has fallen, and they are at risk of catching the disease.

Caretaker Minister of Health Dr Nadeem Jan has expressed concerns over the detection of the virus in environmental samples and ordered all efforts to protect children from the crippling disease.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2023