ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Ministry of Health on Thursday confirmed the presence of polio-virus in environmental samples of country’s six districts.
According to spokesperson of the Ministry of Health, four samples were taken from Karachi and two were from Chaman.
He said that the polio-virus has also been found in one sample each from Kohat, Nowshera and Peshawar.
He added the virus belongs to the YB3A virus cluster found in Afghanistan.
The spokesperson warned that every child is at risk because of the presence of the virus especially for children under five years of age as this virus can make them disabled for the whole life.
Meanwhile Caretaker Minister for Health Dr Nadeem Jan said only vaccines protect children as there is no cure for polio.
Minister urges parents to cooperate with polio workers
He said requested parents to cooperate with polio workers coming to their homes by administering the vaccine.
Dr Nadeem Jan asked parents to must take polio drops to their children to save them from lifelong disability.
He said the polio surveillance system is effectively working in Pakistan.
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He added that the evidence of which is given by the immediate confirmation of the presence of the virus.
The minister said the government is taking measures to eradicate polio on a coordinated basis.
Polio is a crippling and potentially fatal transferrable disease caused by the poliovirus. Although Pakistan has made significant progress in fighting the disease in the past, the recent confirmation of the virus in various districts is a reminder that the battle is not over yet.
International collaboration and support from organizations like WHO remain vital in the battle against polio in Pakistan.
