32 Polio-positive environmental samples detected in Afghanistan this year: WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Friday that Afghanistan has detected 32 positive environmental samples of polio within this year. These findings highlight an ongoing concern in the country’s efforts to combat the disease.

In a recent statement, the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that Afghanistan has reported five fresh cases of wild poliovirus, all originating from Nangarhar province.

Meanwhile, the country has identified 32 positive environmental samples this year, primarily clustered in the eastern region. Notably, one sample was found in Kandahar in the south and another in Balkh in the north, underlining the widespread distribution of the issue.

“Although the number of positive samples in Afghanistan has increased in 2023 compared to the year 2022, this was partly due to more intensive surveillance in the country, with more sites being sampled and increased frequency of testing,” according to the statement.

A recent environmental detection of polio in Kandahar has prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a public health emergency. The situation is deemed to carry a substantial risk of a widespread outbreak, primarily due to the absence of authorized house-to-house vaccination campaigns in the southern area.

The identified polio case underscores the urgent need for comprehensive preventive
measures and vaccination initiatives to mitigate the potential escalation of
the outbreak. The situation in the southern region highlights the importance of
coordinated efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of the people.

“Any setback in Afghanistan poses a risk to the programme in Pakistan due to high population movement,” the statement warned.

In 2023, Pakistan reported two polio cases, both concentrated in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, as revealed in the statement. Additionally, the country has identified 15 positive environmental surveillance samples related to polio this year.

These findings emphasize the continued presence of polio in some areas of Pakistan and highlight the significance of sustained efforts to control the disease through targeted vaccination campaigns and heightened surveillance measures.

The data underscores the need for comprehensive measures to address and prevent the spread of polio in the country.

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