Pakistan, Afghanistan only two countries in the world with Polio cases

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries in the world with cases of Polio endemic as Africa was declared free of wild polio on Tuesday. All 47 countries in the WHO’s Africa region have eradicated the crippling viral disease, the last polio case was recorded four years ago in Nigeria. Although thousands of people across Africa still live with the effects of the disease.

Globally, wild polio case numbers have been cut drastically due to national and regional immunization for babies and children.

But Michael Galway, a polio expert at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, urged continued vigilance, saying:

“Until wild poliovirus is eradicated everywhere, it’s still a risk everywhere. There’s nothing that prevents the virus from making the route from Pakistan and Afghanistan to Africa.”

Source: Arab News PK