MrProudIndian
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GENEVA: Pakistan is dubbed as the "epicentre" of global terrorism. Now, the terror-affected country is the hotbed of a deadly strain of polio which threatens to spread globally if not checked.
A deadly strain of polio has spread to China from Pakistan and travellers to and from Pakistan should be fully protected by vaccination, the WHO warned countries ahead of the Haj season.
"Wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) genetically linked to virus currently circulating in Pakistan has been isolated in China," the WHO said here.
The UN health agency said it rates as 'high' the risk of further international spread of WPV from Pakistan, particularly given the expected largescale population movements associated with Umrah and the upcoming Haj pilgrimage in the coming months.
Pakistan is affected by nationwide transmission of WPV1, and is the location of the only wild poliovirus type 3 (WPV3) case in Asia in 2011, the WHO said.
As on September 13, Pakistan had reported 84 cases, compared to 48 cases for the same period in 2010, it said.
In 2011, supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) in Pakistan have been inadequate in quality in key highrisk areas, it said. "In security-compromised parts of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and in particular in Khyber agency, upwards of 200,000 children have been regularly missed during SIAs conducted during the last two years," the WHO said.
In addition to challenges relating to reaching children in insecure areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and FATA, significant operational challenges continue to mar the quality of SIAs in accessible areas of Khyber and in other key transmission areas of the country, notably in the provinces of Balochistan and Sindh, it said.
"As per recommendations outlined in WHO's international travel and health, travellers to and from Pakistan should be fully protected by vaccination," it said. Travellers to Pakistan who have in the past received three or more doses of OPV should be offered another dose of polio vaccine before departure, the WHO said.
Some polio-free countries may also require travellers from Pakistan to be immunized against polio in order to obtain an entry visa, the WHO said.
Polio strain from Pakistan a global threat: WHO - The Economic Times
A deadly strain of polio has spread to China from Pakistan and travellers to and from Pakistan should be fully protected by vaccination, the WHO warned countries ahead of the Haj season.
"Wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) genetically linked to virus currently circulating in Pakistan has been isolated in China," the WHO said here.
The UN health agency said it rates as 'high' the risk of further international spread of WPV from Pakistan, particularly given the expected largescale population movements associated with Umrah and the upcoming Haj pilgrimage in the coming months.
Pakistan is affected by nationwide transmission of WPV1, and is the location of the only wild poliovirus type 3 (WPV3) case in Asia in 2011, the WHO said.
As on September 13, Pakistan had reported 84 cases, compared to 48 cases for the same period in 2010, it said.
In 2011, supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) in Pakistan have been inadequate in quality in key highrisk areas, it said. "In security-compromised parts of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and in particular in Khyber agency, upwards of 200,000 children have been regularly missed during SIAs conducted during the last two years," the WHO said.
In addition to challenges relating to reaching children in insecure areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and FATA, significant operational challenges continue to mar the quality of SIAs in accessible areas of Khyber and in other key transmission areas of the country, notably in the provinces of Balochistan and Sindh, it said.
"As per recommendations outlined in WHO's international travel and health, travellers to and from Pakistan should be fully protected by vaccination," it said. Travellers to Pakistan who have in the past received three or more doses of OPV should be offered another dose of polio vaccine before departure, the WHO said.
Some polio-free countries may also require travellers from Pakistan to be immunized against polio in order to obtain an entry visa, the WHO said.
Polio strain from Pakistan a global threat: WHO - The Economic Times
