Sindh polio campaign begins Monday

KARACHI: A comprehensive seven-day anti-polio campaign is scheduled to commence on Monday in Sindh, aiming to reach more than 10.6 million children across the province for immunization.

The provincial task force, dedicated to polio eradication, convened in Karachi to meticulously review and finalize the logistical and operational arrangements for the upcoming campaign.

On January 21, Ministry of Health sources confirmed the troubling presence of poliovirus in sewage samples obtained from Balochistan’s Lasbela district. These samples specifically tested positive for Type-1 Wild Poliovirus (WPV1), signaling a concerning spread of the virus.

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Moreover, genetic analysis conducted on the virus extracted from these samples revealed a significant link to Gadap Karachi, highlighting the interconnectedness of polio transmission across regions. This underscores the importance of coordinated efforts in tackling the disease.

The gravity of the situation is further compounded by the Ministry of Health’s recent findings, which detected the presence of poliovirus in environmental samples collected from nine districts nationwide just last month. Such widespread distribution of the virus underscores the need for continuous vigilance and robust immunization campaigns to curb its transmission effectively.