The Ministry of Health has confirmed the presence of the polio virus in environmental samples from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Loralai District in Balochistan.

This brings the total number of districts in Pakistan with confirmed polio virus in environmental samples to 45, with 176 positive samples detected so far.

The confirmation in Rawalpindi, Punjab, follows previous detections in other parts of the country.

Pakistan has already recorded four children paralyzed and one death due to polio this year.

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The latest findings highlight the ongoing threat of polio in Pakistan and emphasize the need for continued vaccination efforts to prevent the spread of the disease.