With nuclear armed Islamic country Pakistan reporting 62 polio cases this year and signs of country’s polio virus traced in Syria,  there is every likelihood that Pakistani citizens may face travel ban if polio was not combated in the country.

Islamabad, Nov 14/Nationalturk – In a worst case scenario, Pakistani citizens may face travel ban if polio is not combated in the Islamic nuclear armed country, which is battling terrorism and where at least 62 polio cases have been reported this year.

After 13 cases of polio were detected in ‘polio-free’ Syria, Social Sector Minister of Syria has said the virus was transmitted from Pakistan’s militancy-affected Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into his country.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also confirmed that polio virus that crippled at least 13 Syrian children last month originated in Pakistan.

Polio virus is endemic in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria despite a 25-year-old campaign to eradicate the disease, which can paralyze a child in hours.

Islamist fighters from countries including Pakistan are said to be among groups battling to oust President Bashar al-Assad, leading to speculation that they brought the virus into the country.

‘Pakistan polio virus threats Turkey, parts of Europe’

“Pakistan poliovirus now threatens Turkey and parts of Europe as the ban on anti-polio campaign in parts of the tribal areas in the country continues to deprive thousands of children from vaccination against the crippling disease,” Pakistan’s newspaper The News reported.

Officials said conflict in Pakistan’s tribal areas has allowed the virus to flourish and hitch a ride west, demonstrating that as long as polio has a foothold in one country, no other country is safe. The polio virus from Pakistan has already been found in Egypt, Palestine and Israel

Militants of banned terrorist outfits have repeatedly targeted polio workers and volunteers at several places in Pakistan, killing many including women polio workers and injuring dozens others. The attacks forced government to halt polio immunization drive in some parts of the country.
“Since a large number of refugees are fleeing Syria and seeking refuge in neighbouring countries and Europe, there is now a chance the virus could be carried to the areas that have been polio-free for decades,” wrote Dr Martin Eichner from University of Tubingen and Stefan Brockmann of Germany’s Reutlingen Regional Public Health Office in their joint article published in the globally famous Lancet Medical Journal.

‘62 polio cases reported in Pakistan this year’

A WHO official was quoted as saying by Pakistan newspaper (The News) that Pakistan recorded a huge number of 65,000 families that refused administering polio vaccines to their children during the recently concluded polio campaign.

“By recording 62 polio cases this year, Pakistan has already crossed last year’s polio case count of 58,” he said.

The health experts said Pakistan may report over 70 polio cases during the current year. “The FATA region remains the frontrunner in reporting polio cases as 43 children have been paralysed in the region. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported nine polio cases, Punjab six whereas Sindh has reported four cases during the current year.”

In South and North Waziristan tribal regions, where the government signed peace accords with militant groups, the Taliban banned polio immunisation two years ago as a mark of protest against US drone strikes.

‘Pakistanis may face travel restrictions’

The WHO official told The News that Pakistan may be singled out for international travel restrictions if steps were not taken to stop the transmission of poliovirus from the country.

Earlier, in April this year, the World Health Assembly and World Anti-polio Monitoring Board issued ultimatum to the last regime that if Polio will not be eliminated from Pakistan till May this year, then an international travel ban can be imposed on it.

“After imposition of travel ban, all Pakistanis will have to get a certificate of polio vaccination for travelling abroad,” officials said.

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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News

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