Crippling Polio Outbreak In Pakistan – 8 Children Affected

 Crippling Polio Outbreak In Pakistan – 8 Children Affected

A wild poliovirus has caused paralysis in 8 children in Pakistan’s tribal areas in 2018 alone, according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. This virulent strain of the polio virus was last reported in the country in 2014 when it paralyzed 17 children. The wild poliovirus is responsible for 99% of polio cases around the world, and its continued presence shows that Pakistan has not yet eradicated polio completely. The government must take action to remove all children from high-risk areas and vaccinate them against the disease as soon as possible to prevent more outbreaks like this one.

Current Status in the Country

A recent outbreak of wild poliovirus in Pakistan has already crippled 17 children in Sindh province. Local Pakistani health officials are currently monitoring the situation and have initiated vaccination campaigns in all schools in the area. World Health Organization (WHO) officials predict that if the virus spreads, it could cause mass paralysis and death as it did so many decades ago. While the world is still free of this illness and children are receiving their immunizations on time, no one wants a polio outbreak to destroy that progress.

A Short History of India's Fight Against Polio

India became one of the first countries to combat polio when in the early 1900s British medical researcher, Sir Ramaswamy Ramanathan found a cure for paralysis by exploring how to use vitamin A. These efforts persisted, with India launching its own national polio program in 1995 that created hundreds of thousands of polio vaccine volunteers and saw the virus largely eradicated across the country by 2005. After this success, India expanded its efforts to other developing countries in what would become known as 'PolioPlus'. This has since reduced poliovirus circulation and saved millions of lives worldwide.

However, despite these successes, there have been recent reports from UNICEF that suggest a new wild poliovirus strain emerged in Pakistan last year.

Causes of the New Infections

The polio outbreak in the region is thought to be a result of polio vaccine refusal and poor vaccination access. Authorities said they expect new infections in the region to continue to rise, with eight reported cases of infection and 17 more children being crippled with the virus as of Tuesday, April 30th. 

Many locals are opting not to vaccinate their children due to misunderstandings over safety and security surrounding immunizations. Others in rural areas cannot reach nearby clinics or health posts that provide vaccinations because their location has made them unreachable for supplies, such as food and fuel that are needed for mobility and travel.

A Timeline of Where Things Stand Today

Pakistan currently has the highest number of polio cases in the world, and this latest wave of infection poses a major threat to children across the country. Local health officials and the WHO have called for mass immunization efforts in affected areas with injections of vitamin A, an anti-polio vaccine (used in times of emergency), or an antibiotic. This is not just Pakistan's problem either; there is no cure for polio, so any outbreak around the world can spread back to cause paralysis here at home. To eliminate polio as a global disease by 2018, we need to vaccinate every child with one dose of the polio vaccine. Join us today by pledging to take responsibility and protect our children from a debilitating illnesses.

Next Steps

These types of outbreaks are rare and at this point, it is not yet clear where the virus came from or what has caused the outbreak. As for what you can do to help, simply stay up-to-date on the latest news about how to stop the spread and make sure your child is up-to-date on their polio vaccinations. The risk of contracting polio has never been higher in places where more than 80% of children haven't been vaccinated. With more countries canceling immunization campaigns, this becomes all the more likely - a new pandemic is possible at any time and it is only going to take one infected person entering Pakistan for this crippling event to reoccur.

What You Can Do

Donate to the World Health Organization's campaign to eradicate polio. By doing so, you will be able to help the Pakistani people with what they need right now. With your donation, the WHO can send more doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel into those communities affected by this crippling outbreak. It may not seem like much now, but every dollar helps make a difference in someone's life.