Poliovirus was once again confirmed in environmental samples of Peshawar. Officials of the anti-polio program reported that the recovered samples have genetic similarities with the polio virus found in Afghanistan.
According to the National Health Organization, this is the fourth time the poliovirus got detected in the environmental samples of the Nade Khar area in Peshawar.
The Anti-Polio Program reported that 12 environmental samples have so far confirmed poliovirus in Pakistan, which is genetically similar to the virus found in Afghanistan. They added that so far one case of polio has been reported in Pakistan.
Anti-Polio Campaign 2023
On January 15, 2023, Pakistan launched the anti-poli campaign across the country. Under the campaign, the target was to immunize children of age five.
In 2022, Pakistan reported 20 cases of polio. It is pertinent to mention that all 20 cases were reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – an area where polio workers are fulfilling their duties despite frequent threats to their lives.
The National eradication program deployed over 360,000 health workers to deliver polio drops. At least 44.2 million children across 156 districts received polio drops. The program also added vitamin A supplements to boost the immunity of children against the virus.