Poliovirus found in environmental sample of 3 cities

ISLAMABAD: The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication has confirmed the detection of Type-1 wild poliovirus (WPV1) in three environmental (sewage) samples collected from Karachi, Sukkur and Chaman, officials said on Wednesday.

In Karachi Central, the environmental sample was collected on March 06 from the ‘Haji Mureed Goth’ environmental sample collection site, marking it the third positive sample from District Karachi Central this year. The previous two positive samples were collected on January 02 and February 15.

In Sukkur, the environmental sample was collected on March 04 from the ‘Maka Pumping Station’ environmental sample collection site, which is also the third positive sample from district Sukkur this year. The previous two positive samples were collected on January 02 and February 13.

In Chaman, the environmental sample was collected on March 05 from the ‘Army Kaziba’ environmental sample collection site. This is the fifth positive sample from district Chaman this year. The previous four positive samples were collected on January 02 and February 21. Furthermore, the district also reported one polio case this year.

These new detections take the tally of positive environmental samples for WPV1 in Pakistan this year to 74.