Caretaker Minister for Health Dr. Nadeem Jan said, “43 positive environmental samples had been reported in the country that was very worrying.”
He added that Pakistan had the world’s most sensitive polio surveillance system, as rapid confirmation of the virus in environmental samples demonstrated that the system was working efficiently.
He emphasized that the crippling disease was incurable, adding that only the vaccine could provide lifelong protection to children against the poliovirus.
“The genetic analysis revealed that the virus found in all the samples belonged to the poliovirus cluster in Afghanistan.”
According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, these samples were taken from Karachi, Rawalpindi, Chaman, and Peshawar cities.
“We have organized many polio campaigns this year,” he said, adding that in November, in the areas where the virus was present, children would be vaccinated through a campaign.
The presence of viruses in the environment was a threat to every child,” Dr. Nadeem Jan said.
Poliovirus has been confirmed in the environmental samples of four districts of the country.
He urged parents to ensure that their children receive polio drops in every campaign.
