No confirmed cases of paralytic polio –…

Lusaka Province Health Director, Simulyamana Choonga, has assured that no confirmed cases of paralytic polio have been recorded in the province, stating however that the detection of poliovirus in wastewater remains a public health concern. In an exclusive interview with the media, Dr Choonga noted that the response team is on the ground engaging communities on the possibility of tracing the virus to a specific individual. He pointed out that the virus was identified through a routine environmental monitoring programme, serving as an early warning system before clinical cases are reported.

Dr Choonga further emphasised that virus presence in wastewater, does not necessarily mean widespread infection, with public risk remaining low. “We want to reassure residents that the risk to the general public remains low at this time,” Dr Choonga said. Dr Choonga urged the community to vaccinate children once campaigns begin, further appealing to the public to maintain good hygiene to prevent any cases.