SO far 27 polio cases have been confirmed in Pakistan — only country, besides Afghanistan and Nigeria where this crippling virus still exists. Until poliovirus transmission is interrupted in these countries, all countries remain at risk of importation of polio, especially vulnerable countries with weak public health and immunisation services and travel or trade links to endemic countries.

According to the Mayo Clinic, polio is a contagious viral illness that in its most severe form causes nerve injury leading to paralysis, difficulty breathing and sometimes death.

Polio mainly affects children younger than five. However, anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated is at risk of developing the disease.

It can be transmitted through direct contact with someone infected with the virus or, less commonly, through contaminated food and water. People carrying the poliovirus can spread the virus for weeks in their feces. People who have the virus but don’t have symptoms can pass the virus to others.

I hope the government and people of Pakistan will realise the threat they face and work together to eradicate this illness.

Dr Masud Hussain, Yasira Mansoor
Makran

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2019