The importation of the polio virus type-1 to Egypt came from Sukkur district.
A press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Secretariat on Tuesday called for polio vaccination counters to be established inside all international departure lounges on an urgent basis, making it mandatory for all children up to age 5 leaving Pakistan to be vaccinated against the virus.
The release came following the office of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Pakistan reporting that the importation of the polio virus type-1 to Egypt came from Sukkur district, Sindh.
It was isolated in sewage water samples collected from two different sites in Cairo. The release said that vaccination posts were already working at 22 crossing points on Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan and the Sost border with China to stop the transmission of the virus to neighbouring countries.
It said that the importation of the virus from Pakistan to another country was a serious development which had caused alarm amongst the global health community. The release also warned that the development was likely to result in international health regulations being invoked-which can have implications for Pakistanis travelling abroad.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (4)
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A country where people still go to mullahs for treatment of all kinds. We do not believe in vaccination, we kill healthcare workers; we want the politicians to have degrees not the doctors and dentists. Thousands of fake doctors are practicing in Pakistan without fear. Openly in the parks people offer themselves to the fake experts and have them insert contaminated tools in their inner ears. I can go on and on but what else would happen in a society which hates everything science? It is not surprising that in economy, security, fairness, education, healthcare, civic infrastructure etc., we are in the bottom of the world. Like the worst terrorists of the world we can find the worst viruses and bacteria here.
Considering the process involved in the vaccination... That's really misleading. Possibly dangerously so.
VOW!!! another feather in the Cap of the PPP government. I wonder how will the ex PM react now as he had demanded that all who wants to leave this land should leave as no one is stopping them.
I demand that steps be taken to ensure that no counters are set up at the airports, as these will make it harder for people to leave the country.