The Pakistan Polio Laboratory at the National Institute of Health in Islamabad has detected the presence of the wild polio virus of Afghan origin in sewage samples from Peshawar and Hangu districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. The samples were collected from the Naray Khuwar site in Peshawar and from Civil Hospital-Jani Chowk site in Hangu on April 10, and were genetically linked to the polio virus that was found in the environment in Nangarhar, Afghanistan in January 2023.
So far this year, Pakistan has reported one human case and five environmental samples positive for the wild polio virus. To increase children’s immunity, Pakistan and Afghanistan will be conducting a synchronised vaccination campaign during May.
The detection of the virus in sewage samples is concerning because it indicates that the virus is still present in the environment and can spread easily, particularly in areas with low vaccination coverage. Pakistan has been making efforts to eradicate polio, but challenges such as insecurity and vaccine hesitancy have impeded progress.
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It is crucial for both Pakistan and Afghanistan to work together to eliminate polio, as the two countries share a porous border, and polio anywhere poses a risk to children everywhere. The detection of the virus in Pakistan underscores the need for continued vigilance and concerted efforts to achieve a polio-free world.
