**Polio Virus Detected in 12 Districts of Country**
**(Image: The provided image of the poliovirus)**
Pakistan’s fight against polio continues as the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication, located at the National Institute of Health, has confirmed the presence of poliovirus in sewage samples from 12 districts across three provinces.
The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) for Polio verified the detection of Wild Poliovirus Type 1 in environmental samples collected between February 17th and 26th.
Sources indicate that positive samples were found in five districts in Punjab (Lahore, Multan, Kasur, Bahawalpur, and D.G. Khan), four districts in Balochistan (Quetta, Sibi, Dera Bugti, and Lasbela), and three districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (South Waziristan, Charsadda, and Swabi).
The NEOC reported that sewage samples were collected from 127 locations nationwide for poliovirus testing.
This year, Pakistan has reported six polio cases, with four in Sindh and one each in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. In 2023, there were 74 recorded polio cases: one each from Punjab and Islamabad, 27 from Balochistan, 22 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 23 from Sindh.
Polio is a devastating and incurable disease that causes paralysis. To protect children, it’s crucial to administer multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and ensure they complete the routine vaccination schedule before the age of five. This builds strong immunity against this crippling illness.