Environmental samples collected from Peshawar district in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province have tested positive for wild poliovirus. The news has sent alarm bells ringing across the nation and beyond, as health officials scramble to contain the potentially devastating outbreak.
According to the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, Federal Minister Abdul Qadir Patel expressed deep concern, stating that the virus poses a grave threat to children, regardless of borders. Emphasizing the importance of vaccination campaigns, he urged parents to ensure that their children under five receive the life-saving anti-polio drops.
“Polio is highly infectious and incurable, predominantly affecting young children. It invades the nervous system, leading to paralysis or even death,” warned the minister.
Despite the grim situation, Patel remained resolute, highlighting the effectiveness of the Pakistan Polio Programme’s robust surveillance system, which promptly detected the virus in sewage samples. Vowing to stamp out the virus wherever it’s found, the government plans to launch an immunization drive in 61 districts, targeting over 7.7 million children, starting August 1.
As the nation braces for this critical battle, cooperation with Afghanistan’s polio eradication program is underway to combat the menace from both sides.