Health officials in Mirpur, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), have urged parents to ensure the complete routine immunisation of their children under the age of five, including the full course of polio vaccinations, following the recent detection of poliovirus in the district’s sewerage system.
Dr. Fida Hussain, District Health Officer (DHO) of Mirpur, confirmed the presence of the virus during an environmental inspection and noted that the detected strain is genetically linked to the virus currently circulating in Lahore.
While reassuring the public, Dr. Hussain emphasized that the detection should not cause panic, as similar findings have been reported at around 200 sites across Pakistan through routine environmental surveillance.
He stressed the importance of parents actively participating in national polio eradication campaigns, which are organized under the World Health Organization’s immunisation calendar, and ensuring their children receive all required doses.
The DHO also noted that the AJK State Health Department is closely monitoring the situation and stands ready to respond swiftly to any further detections of the virus in the region.
