ISLAMABAD/KABUL: The spread of poliovirus from Afghanistan into Pakistan has raised fresh concerns among health authorities after Afghanistan reported 50 cases of the crippling disease this year.
Officials have warned that cross-border transmission is contributing to the continued presence of the virus in Pakistan. According to health authorities, between 40 and 50 per cent of the polio cases reported in Pakistan over the past two months have been genetically linked to Afghanistan.
The return of deported Afghan nationals to Pakistan through illegal crossing points has also been identified as a major risk factor for the spread of the virus. Authorities fear that undocumented cross-border movement could further complicate efforts to eliminate polio from the country.
Pakistan has reported nine polio cases so far this year, while Afghanistan has recorded 50 cases. Genetic testing has also confirmed that all three cases reported in Khyber district are linked to poliovirus originating in Afghanistan.
Health officials further revealed that poliovirus originating in Afghanistan has been detected in 29 sewage samples collected across Pakistan. The findings indicate continued circulation of the virus and highlight the challenges facing the country’s vaccination and surveillance programmes.
The Afghan-origin poliovirus has also spread to several parts of Pakistan, including Karachi, Jamshoro, Rawalpindi and Multan.
The latest developments have raised concerns about the effectiveness of cross-border disease control measures, as health authorities continue efforts to prevent further transmission.
Officials have stressed the importance of vaccination, environmental surveillance and coordinated efforts to protect children from the potentially paralysing disease.
