Border districts still have threat of polio virus from Pakistan: Dr.Multani
Ferozepur, April 2, 2017: In spite of the fact that World Health Organization has declared India as polio-free country but border district still have danger of polio virus across the border from Pakistan and the borders districts has to be more vigilant than other districts.
These views were expressed by Dr.Daler Singh Multani today while launching the polio plus drops programme today from border town Mamdot by giving
Dr.Multani said, the three days’ campaign will coverr2.5 lac population town of Mamdot to eradicate polio menace from the country.
He said, polio is a water-borne virus, he explained, and is transmitted to children through the fecal-oral route. Health Department has eradicated polio from the country through anti-polio vaccine but border belt adjoining Pakistan has still danger of polio which has polio virus signs. Apart from awareness in the border towns, the health department is keeping a vigil and monitoring the polio drops to the children in the area.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan’s polio eradication programme has come under international scrutiny due to its position as the main driver of global wild poliovirus spread in recent years. Polio (poliomyelitis) is a highly infectious debilitating virus that targets the nervous system of children, causing partial or complete paralysis of their limbs. Since 1988, reported polio cases worldwide have declined by more than 99 percent, but the virus remains endemic in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.
The campaign faces many challenges, but perhaps the most pressing is the matter of continuing threats against polio vaccination teams issued by armed religious groups.
