Environmental surveillance has detected the presence of poliovirus in samples collected from five districts of Sindh during August, prompting health authorities to strengthen vaccination and preventive measures in the affected areas.
According to the Sindh Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), one environmental sample each from Karachi’s West, Korangi, Central and South districts tested positive for poliovirus. Two additional positive environmental samples were also detected in Hyderabad.
The findings indicate that poliovirus continues to circulate in parts of Sindh, highlighting the importance of sustained surveillance and vaccination activities. Environmental surveillance can detect the presence of poliovirus in sewage samples even when no child in the area has been diagnosed with polio.
Several other districts recorded negative environmental samples during the same period. Karachi’s East, Keamari and Malir districts tested negative, while samples from Ghotki, Sukkur, Jacobabad and Qambar also showed no evidence of the virus.
The Sindh EOC further reported negative results from environmental surveillance in Larkana, Kashmore, Dadu, Badin, Jamshoro, Sujawal, Mirpur Khas and Sanghar. These results indicate that poliovirus was not detected in the samples collected from those areas during the reported period.
Following the latest positive findings, authorities are placing greater emphasis on polio vaccination and surveillance in the affected districts. Additional preventive measures can help identify possible transmission areas and reduce the risk of the virus spreading to children.
Health authorities continue to stress the importance of completing all recommended doses of the polio vaccine. Repeated vaccination strengthens children’s protection against poliovirus and plays an important role in preventing transmission within communities.
The latest environmental surveillance results serve as a reminder that continued vaccination, effective monitoring and timely public-health interventions remain important for Pakistan’s efforts to eliminate polio.
