ISLAMABAD: World Health Organization’s decided to maintain travel restrictions for 3 month on Pakistan due to Polio.
According to the details, in a statement issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), Pakistan and Afghanistan have been declared a threat to the global spread of polio, and the WHO’s Emergency Committee for Polio has recommended the extension of travel restrictions
According to the announcement, the 37th meeting of WHO’s Emergency Polio Committee was held on December 12, in which the spread of polio in the world and its prevention measures were considered. Pakistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritania, Nigeria were present in the meeting. , reviewed the polio situation in Zimbabwe and the performance of affected countries.
6 polio cases have been reported in Pakistan in 2023, and 98 sewage samples were found to be polio positive. The presence of polio virus in the sewage of all four provinces is a risk. According to WHO, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Islamabad There is polio in sewage.
In Pakistan, parents who refuse polio vaccination and deprived children are a challenge, children deprived of polio vaccine in sensitive areas continue to be a challenge, however, WHO said that Pakistan’s arrangements for children deprived of polio vaccine are satisfactory, Pakistan in this regard taking special measures.
According to WHO, movement in and out of Pakistan and Afghanistan is the source of the spread of polio, Karachi and Quetta block are sensitive to the polio virus, the spread of polio has accelerated last year, the return of Afghan refugees from Pakistan also caused polio.
The statement said that Pakistan’s polio surveillance will continue for another three months, polio vaccination of people going abroad from Pakistan will be mandatory, WHO will review Pakistan’s anti-polio measures after 3 months.
It should be noted that travel restrictions were imposed on Pakistan due to polio in May 2014
