Polio virus detected in environmental samples of 8 districts of Balochistan

Polio virus detected in environmental samples of 8 districts of Balochistan

QUETTA: The Wild polio virus Type 1 has been detected in the environmental samples of eight districts of Balochistan province.
According to the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme, the polio virus was detected in the environmental samples of Zhob, Noshki, Lasbela, Hub, Khuzdar, Nasirabad, Dera Bugti and Usta Muhammad.
Besides eight districts of Balochistan, environmental samples have also been tested positive in 13 other districts of the country.
They are included: Islamabad, Charsada, Peshawar, Sawabi, Tank, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang, Lahore, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Karachi East and Muzaffarabad.
The environmental samples were taken in January 2025.
It may be recalled that polio virus was also detected in the environmental samples of 10 districts of Balochistan in December 2024.
These districts were: Quetta, Khuzdar, Lasbela, Noshki, Mastung, Duki, Barkhan, Killa Saifullah, Kech and Sibi.
The presence of polio virus in the environmental samples in the areas means there is a threat of spread of the crippling disease there.
It may also be mentioned here that a full-fledged anti polio vaccination campaign was run from February 3-9, 2025.