One of five environmental samples positive for polio virus: DOH

November 27, 2019

Almost one in each five environmental samples collected nationwide tested positive for polio virus, said the Department of Health (DOH)

In a statement Wednesday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and the Japan National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) said 26 out of 142 environmental samples collected between July 1 to November 6 had tested positive for the virus.

"Out of the 26 positive samples, 25 were collected from the National Capital Region (NCR) and one from Davao City," said Duque.

The 142 environmental samples were collected from the NCR, Cordillera Administrative Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Central Visayas.

Duque said the environmental samples being collected are from sewage treatment plants and bodies of water without treatment plants.

''If viruses continue to spread from person-to-person in areas with low immunization coverage, the polio virus evolves and regains the ability to cause paralysis,” said Duque.

He said this gives the health department more reasons to administer oral polio vaccine, especially children.

"This is why it is of utmost importance that we vaccinate all children below five years old (0-59 months), regardless of their vaccination status,” Duque stressed.

The health department is conducting the third round of the synchronized oral polio vaccine campaign in Metro Manila and the second round in all of Mindanao. DMS