LAHORE - Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister on Health Kh Salman Rafiq has said that no polio case has been reported even after detection of virus from sewerage of Lahore and that was due to steps taken by the government.
He said that the polio virus detected in sewerage water was genetically similar to that found in Peshawar.
He said that there was no local transmission of polio virus in Lahore.
After administering polio drops to the children coming to Punjab from Sindh at Kot Sabzal, Rahim Yar Khan on Friday, Kh Salman Rafiq said that 276 polio cases have been reported in the entire country so far, out of which, only three were from Punjab. He said that genetic link of virus of two polio cases reported in Chakwal and Bhakkar was from D I Khan and Waziristan.
He said that the population of Punjab was more than the total population of three provinces.
He said that people of other provinces come to big cities of Punjab particularly Lahore for seeing their relatives and seeking jobs. He said that thousands of children of KPK province and other areas have not been administered polio vaccine.
He said that according to medical experts, the adult people of polio affected areas could also be carrier of virus. He said that anti-polio campaign has been continuing in 74 high rick union councils during the last three months in Lahore and once again a national campaign was being launched from December 8. He said that low transmission season has been started and government was endeavoring to eliminate polio virus.