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       ISLAMABAD: The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) in environmental samples collected from eight districts.

       Sewage samples collected from Kech, Sibi, Barkhan, Quetta, Gawadar, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan and South Waziristan Lower have tested positive for WPV1, an official of the lab said.

       Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Health Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad Bharath has called for urgent need to integrate efforts of polio and expanded programme of immunisation (EPI) teams to protect children from vaccine preventable diseases.

       He acknowledged the dedication of all provincial EPIs, Polio Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs), partner organisations (Gavi, World Health Organisation, Unicef and Gates Foundation etc.), healthcare professionals, government agencies and specially the frontline healthcare workers working to achieve immunisation targets.

       “This is a shared responsibility that demands full commitment from all of us, especially at the provincial and district levels,” Dr Bharath said.

       Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2025