Polio virus: WHO extends travel restrictions on Pakistan

• Incidence of Wild Polio Virus cases decreases to zero in last 10 months, down from 84 reported cases in 2020
• Viral presence in Pakistan's sewerage systems diminishes, which has aided in the infection's containment.
• Afghanistan the primary source of Wild Polio Virus, which enters Pakistan via refugee migration.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has extended travel restrictions on Pakistan by three months due to it being the last polio-endemic country, along with Afghanistan.

The WHO deemed Pakistan and Afghanistan to be dangerous countries in a recent statement by the Thirtieth Polio IHR Emergency Committee, stating that the two countries have failed to eradicate polio fully and may be responsible for the virus's global spread.

Pakistan, on the other hand, has made remarkable strides against polio, as the incidence of Wild Polio Virus (WPV1) cases has decreased to zero in the previous ten months, down from 84 reported cases in 2020.

The Committee observed that Pakistan's primary problem continues to be the 'persistently overlooked children' in core reservoirs, as well as dealing with parental refusals and troubling polio vaccination programmes in sensitive areas.

However, the committee noted that the viral presence in Pakistan's sewerage systems has diminished, which has aided in the infection's containment.

According to the WHO, Afghanistan is the primary source of Wild Polio Virus, which enters Pakistan via refugee migration. This poses a serious threat to Pakistan.

Polio surveillance will continue in Pakistan for an additional three months, and Pakistanis traveling overseas will be required to prove polio immunization.

The polio related travel restrictions were imposed in Pakistan in May 2014.