Pakistan: 2022 Polio

[Mary Wilson]

Poliovirus 1 detected in samples collected in five cities

September 22, 2022
By M Waqar Bhatti

SLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Polio Laboratory at the National Institute of Health Islamabad has confirmed the detection of Type-1 Wild Poliovirus (WPV1) in five environmental samples collected in August-September 2022, officials in the National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) said.

New positive environmental samples have been detected from District Bannu, Peshawar, Swat, South Waziristan & Rawalpindi. “This is the 8th positive environmental sample from Bannu, 4th positive sample from Peshawar, and the 3rd positive sample each from Rawalpindi and Swat, this year”, an official of the NHSR&C said adding that from South Waziristan, this is the first positive environmental sample after the WPV1 case was confirmed from the district last week. The total number of positive environmental samples in 2022 is 27.

Seventeen positive environmental samples were detected from KP (eight from Bannu, four from Peshawar, three from Swat, and one each from Nowshera & South Waziristan), eight positive samples from Punjab (three each from Lahore & Rawalpindi and one each from Bahawalpur & Sialkot), and one positive sample each from Sindh) (Karachi Landhi) and Islamabad.

One positive environmental sample was detected in April, two in May, one in June, seven on July, 15 in August and one in September 2022. In 2021, 65 positive environmental samples were detected in the country.To mitigate the risks associated with the recent poliovirus detections from the environment, an immediate response round (sub-national) was implemented in August 2022, the official added. ...

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/993560-poliovirus-1-detected-in-samples-collected-in-five-cities

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://arynews.tv/pakistan-reports-...th-waziristan/

Pakistan reports 20th polio case in 2022 from North Waziristan
September 30, 2022
Web Desk

SLAMABAD: In an unfortunate development, another case of polio has been reported in the country after it was detected in a 10-year-old child from North Waziristan district of the KP province, ARY NEWS reported.

According to a spokesman for National Ministry for Health, the poliovirus was found in a 10-month-old child from union council Ghulam Khan of North Waziristan.

“In the ongoing year, as many as 17 cases of poliovirus have been reported from North Waziristan,” the spokesman said, adding that the national tally of virus-affected children has reached 20 in 2022.

It is pertinent to mention here that the National Polio Lab (NPL) has recently detected polio virus in sewage water samples collected from five cities, including Peshawar...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1716901/policeman-martyred-in-attack-on-polio-team

Policeman martyred in attack on polio team
Saleem Shahid Published October 26, 2022 Updated about 15 hours ago

QUETTA: A police constable escorting health workers was martyred on Tuesday in a targeted attack during a polio eradication campaign in Pishin district.

Police said the incident took place in the Mirzai area of Killi Trat, on the outskirts of Pishin town, when armed men opened fire on the team. The polio volunteers remained safe as the head constable of Pishin police covered them. But he ended up receiving bullet injuries. He was rushed to the district hospital, but passed away on the way.

“We have received the body of the policeman, who was identified as Muhammad Hashim,” hospital officials said, adding the body was shifted to Quetta for an autopsy...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://minutemirror.com.pk/levies-officer-lost-life-in-attack-on-polio-workers-70004/

Levies officer lost life in attack on polio workers
By Mirror Web
October 28, 2022
Updated: 5 hours ago

A Levies official was martyred after an armed man opened fire on a polio team in the Chaman district of Balochistan.

On Thursday, a levies representative was sent to ensure the safety of the polio team by giving anti-polio drops to youngsters under the age of five.

Habib ur Rehman, a citizen of Chaman, was named as the victim. When Levies and the police arrived, they began an inquiry into the incident.

The victim’s dead body was carried to the District Headquarters Hospital in Chaman, where the deputy commissioner of Chaman and other concerned officers arrived....

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://toronto.citynews.ca/2022/11/30/2-dead-as-bomber-hits-pakistan-police-protecting-polio-teams/

4 dead as bomber hits Pakistan police protecting polio teams
By Abdul Sattar And Munir Ahmed, The Associated Press

Posted Nov 30, 2022, 5:32AM EST.

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — A suicide bomber blew himself up near a truck carrying police officers on their way to protect polio workers near Quetta Wednesday, killing a police officer and three civilians from the same family who was traveling nearby in a car. The bombing also wounded 23 others, mostly policemen, officials said.

Ghulam Azfer Mehser, a senior police officer, said the attack happened as the policemen were heading to the polio workers, part of a nationwide vaccination drive launched Monday.

The blast was so powerful that it toppled the truck carrying police officers into a ravine, he said, adding that the bombing also damaged a nearby car carrying members of a family.

He said that the anti-polio campaign will continue even after the bombing...

 

[Shiloh]

Source: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2389268/polio-virus-found-in-peshawar-faisalabad-sewage

Polio virus found in Peshawar, Faisalabad sewage
Polio has been confirmed in 34 environmental samples during this year
Our Correspondent December 03, 2022

ISLAMABAD:

The polio virus has been found in the sewage samples collected from Peshawar and Faisalabad, a source in the Ministry of Health confirmed.

WPV1 is present in the sewages of Peshawar and Faisalabad. The polio virus is present in the sewage of three pumping stations in Faisalabad. Samples for the polio test were taken from Peshawar and Faisalabad on November 11 and confirmed later, according to the sources.

During this year, polio has been confirmed in 34 environmental samples, of which 22 were from K-P and nine from Punjab.

Sindh and Islamabad had one polio case each this year.

The polio virus has been found in the sewage samples collected from Peshawar and Faisalabad, a source in the Ministry of Health confirmed.

WPV1 is present in the sewages of Peshawar and Faisalabad. The polio virus is present in the sewage of three pumping stations in Faisalabad. Samples for the polio test were taken from Peshawar and Faisalabad on November 11 and confirmed later, according to the sources.

During this year, polio has been confirmed in 34 environmental samples, of which 22 were from K-P and nine from Punjab.

Sindh and Islamabad had one polio case each this year...