In the first two months of 2012, four cases were reported while only one case registered in the first two months of this year, showing a significant reduction, says Official. PHOTO: FILE.
The number of polio cases has dropped in Khyber-Paktunkhwa (K-P) as a result of holding regular immunisation and advocacy campaigns. Only one positive case has been reported this year, said an official of health department on Sunday.
He added that last year, 27 polio cases were reported in K-P while only one case was registered in Bannu this year. He further said that in the first two months of 2012, four cases were reported while only one case registered in the first two months of this year, showing a significant reduction.
Due to effective vaccination and cooperation of people besides improved quality of water of Swat, Malakand, Dir Lower and Abbottabad districts, polio was almost eradicated in these areas, adding that no polio case has been reported from Swat since October last year.
Still, Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera are vulnerable districts where campaigns are held being held to purge the areas from the virus. He added polio virus can be transmitted through use of contaminated water or food and spreads primarily through the fecal-oral route, especially in areas where sanitation is inadequate.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 25th, 2013.
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