Twitter
Advertisement

WHO extends international travel restrictions on Pakistan to prevent spread of polio

The World Health Organisation (WHO) stated that a large population movement across the Middle East, or from Pakistan and Afghanistan increased the risk of international spread of the poliovirus

Latest News
article-main
There was no international spread of the poliovirus in 2015 or the first half of 2016, except for two cases of exportation from Pakistan to Afghanistan
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

For three months, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has extended the international travel restriction on Pakistan for its failure to eradicate polio.

For the first time, all countries having embassies in Pakistan and Afghanistan have been asked to demand polio vaccination certificates from the visa seekers. The WHO stated that a large population movement across the Middle East or from Pakistan and Afghanistan increased the risk of international spread of the poliovirus. It has been reported, Pakistan provides a monthly report on the number of residents whose travel was restricted and those who were vaccinated at the point of the departure.

According to the WHO statement posted on its web site, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Guinea, Lao People's Democratic Republic and Nigeria submitted their performance reports at the ninth meeting of the committee held on May 12. The committee noted that since May 2014 there had been a decline in occurrence of international spread of the wild poliovirus with no international spread in 2015 or thus far in 2016 except between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The committee noted that two new reports of exportation from Pakistan into Afghanistan had occurred.

The committee suggested that Pakistan and Afghanistan declare the interruption of poliovirus transmission as the highest level of emergency. The committee stated that though the poliovirus had not travelled from Afghanistan to Pakistan, the security situation in Afghanistan increased the risk of the virus getting transferred to other countries. Moreover, it recommended that any national or foreign national who stayed in Pakistan for over four weeks should be vaccinated before they leave the country.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement