HYDERABAD - The polio-eradication campaign which was launched in 23 out of 52 high-risk and environmental positive union councils of the four talukas of Hyderabad district on January 17, has come to an end on Sunday with immunization of 1,27,100 children under five years of age against the disease.

The three-day long campaign which launched in these 23 union councils of the district was scheduled to conclude on January 19, 2013 however, due to strike in urban talukas of the district on January 18, the campaign continued on the fourth consecutive days in Hyderabad City and Latifabad Talukas, informed Focal Person on Polio Dr Ashraf Memon while talking to APP.
When asked why special the campaign needed in Hyderabad, Dr Ashraf Memon informed that the laboratory tests revealed the presence of Polio virus Union Council Nos: 4,5,6,8,9,15 and parts of Wards E and F of Hyderabad Cantonment Board. It because of mixing of sewage water in the water supply lines and other health hazards in these thickly populated areas.
Following the presence of Polio virus, these Union Councils and Wards of the Cantonment Board were declared Environmental Positive areas, he added.
Similarly, he said that due to threat of eruption of Polio virus in union council Nos: 3, 6, 10, 12, 15 and 16 of Hyderabad City, Tando Haider, Moulan and Seri of Hyderabad Rural, 6, 12, 13, 16 and 17 of Latifabad and  1, 3 and 4 of Qasimabad, these union councils were declared as high risk union councils.
During the campaign, Dr Ashraf Memon informed that 309 mobile vaccination teams have administered anti-polio drops to children of under five years of age by visiting door to door in these high risk and environmental positive Union Councils while anti-polio drops were also administered at 32 fixed points and six transit points including bus terminal.