The National Polio Laboratory at the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad verified the presence of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in an environmental sample taken from a sewage line in the Landhi district of Karachi in August.
The Ministry of National Health Services claimed that this was the first positive environmental sample from Sindh so far this year, and that 11 confirmed cases of polio had been found in Pakistan in the month of August.
There have been 22 confirmed instances so far this year. “Sindh reported one case, while Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab each recorded five cases in August,” a ministry official said.
This is the first positive sample of Karachi’s environment in the year 2022. In May of 2021, Karachi reported its last positive sample. According to the official, “the last case of wild poliovirus in the district was reported in June of 2020.”
“The most recent polio campaign in the district took place from August 15th to the 21st,” said a different government official. Seven samples from Bannu, three from Peshawar, two from Swat, and one from Nowshera were among the thirteen positive environmental samples obtained in K-P in 2022.
Three samples from Lahore, two from Rawalpindi, and one each from Bahawalpur and Sialkot made up the seven positive samples obtained in the province of Punjab. Islamabad provided one of the two positive samples.
The National Polio Laboratory at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad confirmed that a sample of the environment from a sewage line in the Landhi district of Karachi in August contained wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1).
The Ministry of National Health Services said that this was the first positive environmental sample from Sindh this year, and that 11 confirmed cases of polio had been found in Pakistan in the month of August.
So far this year, there have been 22 cases that have been proven. A ministry official said, “In August, Sindh reported one case, while Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab each reported five cases.”
This is the first good sign about Karachi’s environment in 2022. Karachi sent in its last sample that was positive in May 2021.
“The last case of wild poliovirus in the district was found in June 2020,” the official said.
A different government official said, “The last polio campaign in the district took place from August 15 to August 21.”
Thirteen positive environmental samples were taken in K-P in 2022. Seven of them were from Bannu, three were from Peshawar, two were from Swat, and one was from Nowshera.
Seven positive samples were found in the province of Punjab.
Three of them were from Lahore, two were from Rawalpindi, and one each was from Bahawalpur and Sialkot. One of the two positive samples came from Islamabad.
In April, one sample was positive, two were in May, one was in June, seven were in July, and eleven were in August, for a total of 22.
Mahnur is MS(development Studies)Student at NUST University, completed BS Hons in Eng Literature. Content Writer, Policy analyst, Climate Change specialist, Teacher, HR Recruiter.
