RAWALPINDI: Two environmental samples collected from Rawalpindi have tested positive for poliovirus ahead of the final anti-polio vaccination campaign of 2025, scheduled to take place in the district from December 15 to December 18, health officials said on Friday.
Chief Executive Officer of the District Health Authority, Dr Ehsan Ghani, told Dawn that the poliovirus was detected in samples collected by the World Health Organization from a nullah in Safdarabad near Pirwadhai and from the Dhoke Dalal area. Both locations lie near the border between Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Dr Ghani said the detected virus was genetically linked to an active poliovirus cluster circulating in Rahimyar Khan and Karachi. He described the test results as not immediately alarming, explaining that environmental detection often reflects virus circulation through population movement rather than confirmed clinical cases. “The result is not worrisome as it has come through some group of people,” he said, adding that the impact of the previous month’s vaccination drive would be reflected in December’s environmental samples.
Meanwhile, authorities have finalised arrangements for the last polio vaccination campaign of the year. A meeting to review preparations was held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office and chaired by Deputy Commissioner Dr Hassan Waqar Cheema. Health officials, representatives of the WHO and members of the district administration attended the session.
The meeting reviewed key aspects of the campaign, including the formation of vaccination teams, security arrangements and monitoring mechanisms. Dr Cheema stressed the need for coordinated efforts among all departments to eradicate polio from the district. He directed officials to ensure uninterrupted door-to-door access for vaccination teams and warned that strict action would be taken against negligent staff.
Emphasising public cooperation, the deputy commissioner urged parents to support vaccination teams to protect their children from lifelong disabilities. He said polio eradication was a national responsibility and required collective commitment.
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Officials noted that four environmental samples tested positive for poliovirus in Punjab during November, including two from Lahore and two from Rawalpindi. The upcoming four-day campaign across Punjab aims to vaccinate approximately 23.3 million children under the age of five, with around 200,000 frontline workers participating.
District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ehsan Ghani told Dawn that the poliovirus was found in a sample collected by WHO from a nullah at Safdarabad near Pirwadhai and Dhoke Dalal.https://t.co/xmUAIuu5y0
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 13, 2025
In Rawalpindi alone, more than 10,000 health workers and supervisors will conduct door-to-door visits to vaccinate over one million children. The District Health Authority said all preparations had been completed to ensure smooth and high-quality implementation across both urban and rural areas.
The Punjab Emergency Operations Centre has also deployed technical experts to priority districts to support effective execution of the campaign, reaffirming the province’s commitment to eliminating polio and ensuring that every child receives the life-saving vaccine.
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