Polio virus confirmed in 21 districts of Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Polio virus has been confirmed in environmental samples collected from 21 districts of the country, in the latest sewage sampling.

The National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) said on Sunday that polio virus was confirmed in environmental samples from Muzaffarabad, Dera Bugti, Hub, Noshki, Nasirabad, Zhob, and Lasbela.

Polio virus has also been found in environmental samples from Islamabad, Charsadda, Peshawar, Swabi, Tank, DG Khan, Jhang, Lahore, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, and Karachi East among others.

Samples from all 21 districts were taken between January 8 and 23, 2025. The alarming instance of polio virus comes while the anti-polio vaccination campaign is ongoing in the country.

Today is the last day of the first annual polio campaign of 2025. The NEOC officials appealed to the parents to make it mandatory for children to be given polio drops.

COUNTRYWIDE POLIO VACCINATION CAMPAIGN

On February 2, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched the first nationwide anti-polio campaign for the year 2025. The campaign is running through February 3-9, for children under the age of five.

The prime minister had said that last year, a total of 77 polio cases were reported in the country which emerged as a huge challenge, and as a major setback. For the current year, he expressed the resolve to eradicate polio at all costs, with dedicated team work and support from the international partners.

SINDH SUSPENDS 11 POLIO OFFICIALS

As many as 11 officials were suspended owing to negligence during the ongoing polio campaign in Sindh, the chief secretary’s spokesperson confirmed.

On the directives of Sindh Chief Secretary Asif Haider Shah, the Karachi Commissioner issued a notification for the suspension of the said officials, who were deployed in various subdivisions of Malir and West districts.