World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended travel restrictions on Pakistani citizens in view of detection of new polio cases in Pakistan.

Islamabad, May 5/Nationalturk – Concerned over rise in polio cases in Pakistan, World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended travel restrictions on Pakistani citizens.

WHO termed the ongoing polio outbreaks in Asia, Africa and the Middle East as an ”extraordinary” situation requiring a coordinated international response.

It said spread of polio is an international public health emergency that threatens to infect other countries with the crippling disease.

WHO was concerned over rise in polio cases in Pakistan and recommended that Pakistanis traveling abroad should present a polio vaccination certificate.

“Pakistani citizens should not be allowed to travel abroad without the document certifying that they have been vaccinated for the virus,” it recommended.

WHO also recommended travel restrictions on Syria, Cameroon

WHO also recommended travel restrictions on Syria and Cameroon — two other countries where the disease was previously said to have been eradicated but have recently been known to have been exporting the potentially disease.

Pakistan is one of only three countries where the crippling virus is endemic. The other two countries are Nigeria and Afghanistan.

It asked Pakistan, Cameroon and Syria to officially declare the interruption of poliovirus transmission a national public health emergency if they have not already done so.

“The countries should also ensure that all residents and long-term visitors (anyone staying in the country for more than 4 weeks) receive a dose of OPV or inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) between 4 weeks and 12 months prior to all international travel,” WHO said .

WHO issues guidelines for Pakistan, other countries

It  recommended that the Pakistan and other countries should ensure that individuals undertaking urgent travel (i.e. within 4 weeks), who have not received a dose of OPV or IPV in the previous 4 weeks to 12 months, receive a dose of polio vaccine at least by the time of departure as this will still provide benefit, particularly for frequent travellers.

“The three countries must ensure that such travellers are provided with an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis in the form specified in Annex 6 of the International Health Regulations (2005) to record their polio vaccination and serve as proof of vaccination,” it said.

“The countries must maintain these measures until the following criteria have been met: (i) at least 6 months have passed without new exportations and (ii) there is documentation of full application of high quality eradication activities in all infected and high risk areas; in the absence of such documentation these measures should be maintained until at least 12 months have passed without new exportations,” recommended WHO.

It further said once the country has met the criteria to be assessed as no longer exporting wild poliovirus, it will continue to be considered infected until the time it has met the criteria to be removed from that category.

Write your comments and thoughts below

Asia News / NationalTurk Pakistan News