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Poliovirus found in Peshawar, Sibi sewage samples

Previous 2 positive samples were collected on Jan 2 and Jan 15. The isolated virus is classified as YB3A cluster

By M. Waqar Bhatti
February 13, 2024
A researcher at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics (IBGM) of the University of Valladolid (UVa) works in a laboratory. — AFP/File
A researcher at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics (IBGM) of the University of Valladolid (UVa) works in a laboratory. — AFP/File

KARACHI: Wild Poliovirus Type-1 has been detected in the environmental samples from Peshawar and Sibi.

“The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health Islamabad has confirmed the detection of Type-1 Wild Poliovirus (WPV1) in two environmental (sewage) samples from districts Sibi and Peshawar,” an official in the PEI said. In Sibi, the sample was collected on January 15 from the ‘Main Ghanda Nala’ environmental sample collection site, which was first positive sample from District Sibi since the inception of the site in December 2022. The isolated virus is classified as YB3A cluster and 99.66 percent genetically linked to the virus detected in the environmental sample from Quetta.

In Peshawar, the environmental sample was collected on January 22 from ‘Yousafabad and Tajabad Tributary of Naray Khuwar’, which is the third positive sample from Peshawar this year.

The previous two positive samples were collected on January 2 and January 15. The isolated virus is classified as YB3A cluster. The new detection takes the tally of positive environmental samples to 30 in 2024.