No polio case reported in Punjab so far: Dr Munir

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LAHORE: Health Services Director General Dr Munir Ahmed has claimed that not a single case of polio has been discovered in Punjab so far.

In a statement on Sunday, he said the positive results of environmental samples were taken from sewerage water of an area of Faisalabad.

He stated that every month, the Health Department collects environmental samples as a routine practice. He clarified that as per the survey of the WHO conducted after confirmation of polio virus in Faisalabad, the data in the last three rounds of supplementary immunisation campaigns from drainage areas indicates coverage of 99 per cent children.

“The remaining missed children; however, pose a risk for themselves, as well as other children around them,” Dr Munir said and added that the government is fully focusing on the megacities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, DG Khan and Faisalabad where the virus is tested positive in the sewerage water.

He said on the direction of Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, the department has decided to start the second polio campaign of this year in February.

He said that the virus appears to have travelled to these districts along with population from the neighbouring provinces who very frequently travel to Punjab and shed the virus here.

“Parents residing in those areas, therefore, need to get their children vaccinated”, the health DG stressed.

It is worth mentioning that Punjab has reported zero polio case in 2018 from a total of 12 cases in Pakistan. Whereas in 2019, two polio cases have been reported in the country so far.