ISLAMABAD: An aggressive polio vaccination campaign will be conducted in the twin cities` high risk areas, after environmental samples tested positive for polio in Islamabad and Rawalpindi this year.

In addition, because both the polio cases from 2017 were reported from low risk areas, two nationwide polio vaccination campaigns will be held before the end of May.

Malnutrition will also be raisedasanissue,duetothe vulnerability of malnourished children to the poliovirus because of their low immunity levels.

When an environmental sample tests positive for polio, this means that the poliovirus has been found in a sample of sewerage from area. A sewerage sample is the basic parameter to see if polio vaccination campaigns have been successful.

A polio case can be reported from any city because of the frequent movement of people from one city to another, but if the virus is found in sewerage it means the local polio vaccination campaign did not meet its target. A position environmental sample also shows that the immunity level of children in the area has fallen, making them vulnerable to the disease.

Two polio cases have been reported this year one from Lodhran in Punjab and another from Diamir in Gilgit-Baltistan. Meanwhile, environmental samples collected from Sabzi Mandi in Islamabad and Dhok Dalal and Safdarabad from Rawalpindi tested positive this year.

The head of the National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) Dr Rana Saf dar told Dawn an aggressive polio vaccination campaign will begin in the twin cities` high risk areas on March 27 following the positive samples.