Polio outbreak reaches 132 cases in Pakistan

As the world marks World Polio Day, Pakistan draws world attention as one of only four polio endemic countries globally.
With 132 new polio cases reported in 2011, there is a serious risk of Pakistan being the last polio reservoir in the world, imperilling global eradication efforts, unless the efforts to eradicate this endemic from the country are urgently accelerated.
Despite serious eradication efforts since the beginning of the year, Pakistan has continued to see rising numbers of polio cases, with Balochistan having 54 polio cases, FATA 37, Sindh 27, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 11, Punjab 2 and Gilgit-Baltistan having only a solitary case.
“We must remember that behind every number there is the face of a child and a devastated family” said Dan Rohrmann, UNICEF Pakistan Representative. “We must end polio now and ensure access to all children with polio vaccinations, as specified in the President’s National Emergency Action Plan for Polio Eradication in Pakistan. We have a huge task ahead of us, and the time is up as we are soon entering the low transmission season, where all eradication efforts have to be perfectly synchronized. We must act now,” urged Mr Rohrmann.
WHO Representative for Pakistan Dr Guido Sabatinelli commented: “Eradicating polio from Pakistan depends on delivering oral polio vaccine to each and every child, including the most vulnerable and the hardest-to-reach. This massive undertaking can succeed, but only with the continued commitment of the government, partners and the people of Pakistan.”
The next polio vaccination campaign will be launched tomorrow and will target 33 million children across the country.
UNICEF and WHO are working closely with provincial governments to deploy up to 800 additional staff in the 33 high-risk districts that represent a reservoir of the polio virus. In addition, networks of non-government organisations, along with various religious and civic groups, are working to mobilize community support for polio vaccinations in targeted communities.