The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) Friday confirmed the presence of the poliovirus in environmental samples from Quetta and Karachi’s Kemari area, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

This recent development brings the total number of affected districts to 31. According to NEOC, the virus belonged to a neighbouring country which underscores cross-border transmission risks.

In response to the situation, the NEOC has reported that two polio cases have been identified this year, linked to the same strain found in the environmental samples.

To combat the spread, the NEOC has already conducted three anti-polio campaigns to bolster children's immunity and is planning a large-scale vaccination campaign at the end of April.

This upcoming initiative aims to administer the polio vaccine to over 2 crore children, a critical step given that polio remains an incurable yet preventable disease.

The NEOC emphasizes the importance of vaccination, urging parents to ensure their children are immunized to protect them from the severe consequences of polio.