Poliovirus deteced through sewage samples in Lahore, Rawalpindi and five other cities
The news of Lahore and Islamabad among the list has come as a surprise, as the two were declared polio-free back in April 2021.
After testing sewage samples, Pakistan’s federal authorities have confirmed the existence of poliovirus in seven cities.
The cities that tested positive for polio are:
- Swat
- Rawalpindi
- Lahore
- Islamabad
- Peshawar
- Bannu
- Nowshera
The news of Lahore and Islamabad among the list has come as a surprise, as the two were declared polio-free back in April 2021.
Federal Minister for Health, Abdul Qadir Patel took notice of the matter and said that the government is dedicated to eradicating polio. He further added that there is also a strategy in place to do so.
The Minister urged parents to ensure that their children are vaccinated during the regular polio campaigns.
We have been taking steps to control the virus in seven cities that have reported positive environmental samples.
The Health Ministry has also sought the help of academics, media, religious scholars, and civil society to spread awareness about the matter.
It is important to mention that Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where polio still exists.
Bill Gates and PM Shehbaz Sharif discuss poliovirus
Previously, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Bill Gates discussed public health issues, including the rise of polio in Pakistan.
The PM expressed concern about the increasing number of polio cases in Pakistan and stressed that his government is committed to eradicating the issue. He added that they have been implementing a special emergency response plan for southern KP to scale up and improve the quality of the polio eradication program.
Gates shared the concern and responded that his foundation will keep providing support to Pakistan and make sure that no child is at risk of paralysis due to polio.
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