Spread of polio virus: WHO panel to rule on Pakistan travel curbs today
Restrictions will be detrimental to both Pakistan’s image and economy.
An official of Unicef said that Pakistanis will face immense difficulties in visiting other countries, especially those that are polio-free.
RAWALPINDI:
Pakistan is likely to face travel restrictions owing to its failure to control the polio virus following the detection of 56 cases from different parts of the country.
The 21-member independent International Health Regulations Emergency Committee – formed on the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO) permanent executive board members – is working on recommendations to review the status of polio-affected countries.
The committee will produce the recommendations to WHO Director General Dr Margaret Chan on Monday afternoon.
These recommendations will be shared with the media within one hour at a press conference to be held in Geneva to announce the director general’s decision regarding the restrictions.
Pakistan’s status and steps to contain the polio virus was discussed in a meeting of the board held in January this year in which concerns were expressed over the government efforts to control the disease.
An official of Unicef, who wished not be named, told The Express Tribune that Pakistanis will face immense difficulties in visiting other countries, especially those that are polio-free.
He said chances of travel restrictions on Pakistan and Cameroon are high due to their inability to control the virus.
“They will have to provide medical certificates from authentic medical laboratories and to go through proper medical check-up and tests at the airport of the country they will visit,” the official said.
Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Dr Shamail Daud Arai said the travel restrictions would be detrimental for the country’s economy.
“Due to security reason, we are already facing travel restrictions and this time it will affect large scale projects as well as tarnish our image,” he said.
In its early meeting on April 28, WHO DG Dr Chan convened an emergency committee under the International Health Regulations to advise on whether the current developments on the spread of wild poliovirus constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
There are 10 countries currently considered to have active transmission of wild poliovirus (within the past six months); three of these countries are still endemic for the disease and seven are re-infected.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 5th, 2014.
Pakistan is likely to face travel restrictions owing to its failure to control the polio virus following the detection of 56 cases from different parts of the country.
The 21-member independent International Health Regulations Emergency Committee – formed on the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO) permanent executive board members – is working on recommendations to review the status of polio-affected countries.
The committee will produce the recommendations to WHO Director General Dr Margaret Chan on Monday afternoon.
These recommendations will be shared with the media within one hour at a press conference to be held in Geneva to announce the director general’s decision regarding the restrictions.
Pakistan’s status and steps to contain the polio virus was discussed in a meeting of the board held in January this year in which concerns were expressed over the government efforts to control the disease.
An official of Unicef, who wished not be named, told The Express Tribune that Pakistanis will face immense difficulties in visiting other countries, especially those that are polio-free.
He said chances of travel restrictions on Pakistan and Cameroon are high due to their inability to control the virus.
“They will have to provide medical certificates from authentic medical laboratories and to go through proper medical check-up and tests at the airport of the country they will visit,” the official said.
Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Dr Shamail Daud Arai said the travel restrictions would be detrimental for the country’s economy.
“Due to security reason, we are already facing travel restrictions and this time it will affect large scale projects as well as tarnish our image,” he said.
In its early meeting on April 28, WHO DG Dr Chan convened an emergency committee under the International Health Regulations to advise on whether the current developments on the spread of wild poliovirus constitute a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
There are 10 countries currently considered to have active transmission of wild poliovirus (within the past six months); three of these countries are still endemic for the disease and seven are re-infected.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 5th, 2014.