Islamabad (Web Desk): Health Ministry spokesman Nadeem Jan on Wednesday claimed that the environmental samples collected from Karachi, Rawalpindi, Chaman and Peshawar have been found positive for polio-virus.
According to health ministry, wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) has been found in five sewage samples taken from four districts.
The ministry claimed that the genetic testing of all the samples, linked the positive samples with a polio-virus cluster in Afghanistan. “There are now 43 positive environmental samples reported in Pakistan, which is deeply concerning,” Nadeem said.
"Pakistan has the most effective surveillance system and it has been working effectively, and the immediate confirmation of the virus “demonstrates the system's effectiveness," he added.
He announced that a campaign will be launched in November to vaccinate children in the areas where the virus has been found.
The health ministry directed officials concerned to take all possible steps to protect children from the virus of the crippling disease.
It should be noted that a week earlier, samples collected from Hub, Lahore and Peshawar had been found positive.