THIS February, two polio cases were reported in the country while a total of eight were reported last year.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are two of the only countries in the world who are still battling the crippling polio virus. Nigeria, which was also part of the list, is set to have a polio-free status this year.

Polio or poliomyelitis is a potentially deadly infectious disease which is caused by the virus and can infect a person’s brain and spinal cord causing paralysis. Most commonly it affects children under the age of five.

It can spread from person to person for example by drinking contaminated water or open defecation.

Pakistan is considered as the exporter of the Wild Polio Virus (WPU) with the highest number of outbreaks among endemic countries and is the country where polio is considered an endemic viral infection.

According to a 2018 report, there were eight documented cases of the WPV in Pakistan — even though vaccinations have increased it looks like there is no cure for polio, which is a preventable disease.

I wish the government would pay heed to these alarming health issues.

Aziza Ali Mohammad
Turbat

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2019