Wild Poliovirus detected in 30 environmental samples across Pakistan

In a concerning development, as many as 30 environmental samples collected from 14 districts of Punjab, KP, Sindh, and Balochistan have tested positive for wild poliovirus, reported 24NewsHD TV channel Saturday.  

According to the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health, 28 biological samples have been confirmed positive for poliovirus since January 2024.

The presence of the poliovirus has been identified in various regions including Peshawar, Lahore, Rawalpindi, and DG Khan in Punjab.

In Balochistan, the virus was detected in environmental samples from Quetta, Khuzdar, Kech, Nasirabad, Pishin, and Chaman.

Furthermore, poliovirus has been confirmed in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Jamshoro, and Karachi in Sindh.

Alarming reports indicate that environmental samples from all districts of Karachi have tested positive for the wild poliovirus.

This resurgence comes after 126 environmental samples tested positive for poliovirus across Pakistan last year.

The detection of wild poliovirus in environmental samples raises concerns about the effectiveness of ongoing anti-polio drive in the country.

It is pertinent, Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by poliovirus mainly affecting children under the age of five years. It invades the nervous system and can cause paralysis or even death.

While there is no cure for polio, vaccination is the most effective way to protect children from this crippling disease. Each time a child under the age of five is vaccinated, their protection against the virus is increased.

Repeated immunisations have protected millions of children from polio, allowing almost all countries in the world to become polio-free, besides the two endemic countries of Pakistan and Afghanistan.