ISLAMABAD: Health officials have confirmed the presence of the most dangerous type of polio virus in 10 environmental samples collected from four different regions of Pakistan.
The tests, conducted by the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) Regional Reference Laboratory, found the type 1 wild poliovirus (WPV1) in samples from Diamer, South Waziristan, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. Out of 15 samples received from these areas, 10 tested positive for this virulent strain.
In response to this alarming discovery, a nationwide polio vaccination campaign has been announced. The campaign, organized by the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), will run from September 1 to September 7.
The week-long drive aims to vaccinate over 28 million children under the age of five across 99 districts. The NEOC has made a strong appeal to all parents to ensure their children receive the crucial polio drops to protect them from lifelong paralysis.
Also read:New Polio case reported in Tank district
