ISLAMABAD: Sewage samples from Tank in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Zhob in Balochistan have tested positive for wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1).

The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradi­ca­tion at the National Ins­titute of Health has notified that environmental samples collected between July 4 and 8 from Tank and Zhob contained WPV1.

The Pakistan Polio Programme has implemented six polio campaigns so far this year, including two nationwide campaigns that vaccinated over 40 million children under the age of five in January and February,

According to sources, with the virus reported in 53 districts of the country so far this year, it is essential for parents across the country to understand that this virus continues to pose a constant threat to the well-being of their children and make sure to open their doors to vaccinators to receive polio vaccine.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2024