ISLAMABAD: The wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) has been found in environmental samples from 26 previously infected districts, according to officials. This detection confirms the virus’s ongoing presence in these areas.
The samples were collected from regions including Hyderabad, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, among others. Over 80 districts have reported positive environmental samples for WPV1 this year, with 67 confirmed cases.
Earlier in December, the virus was detected in sewage samples from Charsadda, a district previously unaffected by the virus. The resurgence of WPV1 has prompted the government to intensify its control efforts.
A sub-national vaccination campaign conducted last week immunized over 42 million children across multiple provinces, with the second phase set to begin on December 30 in Balochistan.
