Poliovirus Strikes Peshawar: Two Environmental Samples Test Positive
By: Omed Hajjana
Poliovirus Strikes Peshawar as two environmental samples collected from Peshawar district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan have tested positive for wild poliovirus.
The Pakistan Polio Laboratory at the National Institutes of Health confirmed that wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) was found in sewage samples obtained from Naray Khuwar and Larama collection sites on May 9th and May 16th, respectively.
The lab has determined that the isolated viruses are genetically linked to the virus cluster circulating in the neighboring Nangarhar province of Afghanistan.Pakistan Faces Rise in HIV, Registers 566 New Cases
Abdul Qadir Patel, the Federal Minister for Health, emphasized the joint efforts of Pakistan and Afghanistan in combating polio as the only two remaining endemic countries.
He stated that both nations will not rest until they have eradicated the disease. Patel commended the robust surveillance system of the Pakistan Polio Programme, highlighting the prompt detection of the virus in recent sewage samples.
He reaffirmed the commitment to hunt down and eliminate the virus wherever it is found to safeguard children from the debilitating effects of the disease.
The minister also stressed the importance of parents ensuring that children under five years old receive life-saving polio drops during vaccination campaigns, as the presence of poliovirus on either side of the border poses a threat to children everywhere.
Dr. Shahzad Baig, the Coordinator of the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication, explained that Pakistan conducts monthly testing for WPV1 in environmental samples collected from 114 sites in 80 districts.
He acknowledged that the presence of the virus in the environment is concerning but not unexpected, especially during the high-travel season of Eid in the previous month.
Dr. Baig further stated that the Polio Programme has responded swiftly to all virus detections in the past and will continue to do so in the future to prevent the poliovirus from persisting in under-immunized children.
He emphasized the close coordination and collaboration between the Pakistan Polio Programme, Afghanistan Polio Programme, and provincial Emergency Operations Centre to ensure high-quality vaccination at all border crossings and to identify and address any remaining immunization gaps.
As of now, Pakistan has reported only one polio case and nine positive environmental samples this year, while Afghanistan has reported three human cases and 23 positive environmental samples.
