CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Department of Health (DOH) assured the public of non-emergence of poliovirus in Central Luzon.

“There are no confirmed cases of polio as of this date,” DOH regional director Cesar Cassion said.

“We continue to conduct our surveillance not only in people, but also in the environment,” he added.

DOH monitors waters in the region through regular environmental surveillance ever since the poliovirus was detected in samples taken from sewage in Manila and waterways in Davao.

For his part, DOH Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit chief Jessie Fantone said the region is negative with poliovirus, based on water specimens they obtained from the cities of Angeles and San Fernando.

DOH is conducting more intense surveillance to interrupt the transmission of the circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus, thus synchronized polio vaccination in priority areas like National Capital Region, Calabarzon, Lanao, and Davao.

The health bureau strongly urged parents, guardians, and caregivers to have their children vaccinated with Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age; and Inactivated Polio Vaccine at 14 weeks of age.

Children under five years of age who have not yet complete the three doses of OPV should be brought to the nearest health centers to complete their vaccination. (PIA-Central Luzon)