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Why are polio cases increasing in Pakistan where a new vaccination campaign is about to start soon?
Cases of the polio virus – which causes paralysis or death – are rising across Pakistan – especially in southwestern Balochistan, southern Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and eastern Punjab provinces, due to low vaccination numbers of most health workers and their The police who protect us are being targeted. And attacked. According to officials, despite active vaccination campaigns by the government every year, terrorists falsely claim that the vaccination campaign is a Western conspiracy to sterilize children. A new campaign is being launched on 28th October.
The new campaign will begin next week in which more than 32 million children will be vaccinated to free them from the disease caused by the polio virus.
Polio cases are rising in Pakistan even as a new vaccination campaign is about to begin and incidents of violence have been targeting health workers and the police protecting them. Such attacks have hampered years of efforts to make the country polio-free.
Since January this year, the National Emergency Operations Center for Polio Eradication has confirmed 39 new cases of polio in Pakistan – compared to six cases last year.
The new campaign will begin next week to vaccinate more than 32 million children to free them from the disease caused by the polio virus. Most people have no symptoms or mild symptoms, but some become paralyzed. Wild poliovirus types 2 and 3 have been eliminated, but type 1 is still spreading in some parts of the world – including Pakistan and Afghanistan.
“The whole purpose of these campaigns is to achieve the goal of making Pakistan a polio-free state,” said Anwarul Haq of NEOC for polio eradication.
Vaccination drive hampered by attacks on health workers and police
The government conducts a campaign against polio every year despite attacks on workers and police deployed for vaccination campaigns. Extremists falsely claim the vaccination campaign is a Western plot to sterilize children.
News reports said most of the new cases generally emerged from southwestern Balochistan and southern Sindh provinces, as well as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and eastern Punjab. Officials have expressed concern over the incidents, as similar cases were previously reported in the restive northwest bordering Afghanistan, where the Taliban government abruptly halted a door-to-door vaccination campaign in September.
Pakistani officials have repeatedly blamed the Taliban and said their decision would have a major impact as people from both sides frequently visit each other’s country.
Cases are also increasing in Afghanistan
According to the World Health Organisation, at least 18 cases of polio have been confirmed in the country this year – meaning up to six cases in 2023. Afghanistan used a door-to-door vaccination strategy this June for the first time in five years. According to WHO, a strategy that helped reach most of the targeted children.
Health officials in Pakistan say they want both sides to conduct anti-polio campaigns together.
How does polio affect?
According to experts, the polio virus enters your body through your mouth or nose – making copies of itself and reproducing in your throat and intestine. In some cases, the virus also enters your brain and spinal cord and causes paralysis. Paralysis can affect your arms, legs, or the muscles that control your breathing.
You are most at risk from polio if you have not been vaccinated and you:
- Live or travel to an area where polio has not been eliminated
- live or travel to an area with poor sanitation
- are under 5 years of age
- are pregnant
Which types of polio have been eliminated?
Doctors say wild poliovirus types 2 and 3 have been eliminated globally – meaning there are no longer any naturally occurring cases. Poliovirus type 1 has been eliminated in most countries except Pakistan and Afghanistan.
signs and symptoms of polio
According to experts, about 70-95 percent of infected people do not have any symptoms. However, some of these include:
- Tiredness
- high fever
- Headache
- vomit
- diarrhea and constipation
- sore throat
- stiff neck
- sensitivity to light
- muscle cramps
- Bulbar poliomyelitis which makes breathing, swallowing and speaking difficult
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