Health

Polio virus detected in sewage samples of 14 districts across country

Published by
Staff Reporter

KARACHI: Polio virus was found in sewerage lines of 14 districts across all four provinces of Pakistan, as confirmed by the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication located in the National Institute of Health Pakistan (NIH).

Wild Poliovirus Type 1 has been found in environmental samples collected from sewage lines, as confirmed by the National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio from February 10 to 18.

In terms of specific geographical locations areas that have positive sewage sample includes Sindh: Karachi East and South districts had polio-positive sewage; Balochistan included seven districts with polio-positive sewage, including Quetta, Gwadar, and Khuzdar; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: three districts, namely Abbottabad, Bannu, and Tank had polio-positive sewage, whereas, in Punjab: Lahore and Sargodha districts had polio-positive sewage.

This development comes as Pakistan has already reported six polio cases this year, with four cases from Sindh, one from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one from Punjab. I

n contrast, 30 districts were found to be free from polio virus. Last year, Pakistan recorded 74 polio cases, with 27 from Balochistan, 22 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 23 from Sindh, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.

Staff Reporter

Recent Posts

Gold prices drop by Rs5,600 per tola in Pakistan

KARACHI: The gold prices in Pakistan have been reduced to Rs 424,136 following a reduction…

56 minutes ago

When will Safar moon be sighted? SUPARCO predicts

ISLAMABAD: According to Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), the new moon of…

2 hours ago

11 died as house collapses in Kohat after heavy rains

KOHAT: A residential house collapsed due to heavy rain in the Malgin area of ​​Lachi…

2 hours ago

Alternative to the Strait of Hormuz Ready: UAE Decides to Build New Port

ABU DHUBAI: The United Arab Emirates has prepared a plan to establish a new multi-purpose port…

2 hours ago

Afghan Women’s refugee team could Play International matches by 2030

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering plans that could allow the Afghan women's…

3 hours ago

US-Iran tensions spark fears of fuel price hike in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Escalating tensions between the United States and Iran have once again unsettled global oil…

3 hours ago