- In the past week, the Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health confirmed the detection of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in environmental samples collected from eight districts, including seven already infected districts.
- As of 13 December 2024, sewage samples collected from Charsadda, DI Khan, Rawalpindi, Kambar, Jamshoro, Killa Saifullah, Barkhan and Mastung between November 5 and 20 tested positive for WPV1.
- This is first positive sewage sample detection this year from Charsadda, which borders Peshawar where sewage samples have been positive for several months, indicating continued transmission of WPV1.
- This year 63 polio cases have been reported in the country. The resurgence of poliovirus has put children nationwide at serious risk from a disease that can leave them paralyzed for life.
- Polio is incurable, yet entirely preventable with the help of multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine that the Polio Programme brings to children at their doorsteps multiple times a year. Similarly, routine vaccination against 12 childhood preventable diseases, provided free of charge by the Expanded Programme for Immunization, gives additional immunity boost to children to be able to fight off infections like polio.
- The Polio Programme is launching the next mass vaccination campaign from December 16 to 22 to vaccinate more than 44 million children under five in 143 districts with the oral polio vaccine to keep them protected from paralytic polio.
- It is critical for parents and caregivers to ensure that their children under the age of five receive two drops of the oral polio vaccine whenever a vaccinator knocks on their door to protect children against polio’s paralyzing effects.
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