Latest news Rise in cases - Pakistan launches new polio vaccination campaign
Pakistan has launched a nationwide vaccination campaign against the disease in the wake of an increase in the number of polio infections. According to the Ministry of Health, the campaign aims to reach more than 44 million children under the age of five.
16.12.2024, 13:18
SDA
According to the national polio control program, 63 infections with the wild poliovirus have already been reported this year. Last year, six cases were recorded.
Pakistan regularly conducts door-to-door campaigns with vaccinations against polio. However, persistent attacks on vaccination teams and a general increase in violence by extremist groups are hampering the South Asian country's efforts. Vaccinations against polio are seen by some militant Islamists as a means of the West to supposedly sterilize Muslims.
Thousands of security forces deployed
Thousands of security forces were deployed at the start of the new campaign to protect the vaccination workers against attacks, a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior told the German Press Agency. Nevertheless, there have already been two cases of shots fired at vaccination teams in the north-western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to local police spokesmen. Polio is a contagious infectious disease that can cause permanent paralysis or even death. The virus is often spread via contaminated water. There is currently no cure. The disease has been eradicated through vaccination campaigns in most countries around the world. Pakistan is one of the few countries where the wild type of the pathogen is still regularly contracted.
