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Causes, risk and effects of Polio
Staff Reporter
Islamabad—The latest outbreak of polio has compelled the authorities
to take extra-ordinary decision of calling emergency meeting with top
officials responsible for polio eradication from the country. Much has
been written about this virus in the papers since many decades. But
there is need to know more about the disease, its risks, effects on
human body, current scene in the world and Pakistan and the role of
organizations for the eradication of polio.
Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious disease caused by a
virus. It invades the nervous system, and can cause total paralysis in
a matter of hours. It can strike at any age, but affects mainly
children under three (over 50% of all cases). The virus enters the
body through mouth and multiplies in the intestine. It paralyzes the
human body and 5%-10% die when their breathing muscles become
immobilized.
In the polio endemic countries, poliovirus is mainly passed through
person-to-person contact. Most people infected with the poliovirus do
not develop polio paralysis or other symptoms of polio infection.
However one in 200 people do have symptoms and can become paralyzed.
The poliovirus can also infect persons who have been vaccinated. Such
individuals will not develop polio, but can carry the virus in their
intestines and can pass it to others in conditions of sub-standard
hygiene. The disease may infect thousands of people, depending on the
level of sanitation, before the first case of polio paralysis emerges.
World Health Organization (WHO) considers a single confirmed case of
polio paralysis to be evidence of an epidemic - particularly in
countries where very few cases occur.
How can polio be prevented? There is no cure for polio; it can only be
prevented through immunization. Polio vaccine, given multiple times,
almost always protects a child for life. Full immunization will
markedly reduce an individual’s risk of developing paralytic polio.
Large polio epidemics caused panic every summer during the 1940s and
50s in industrialized countries (US, Western Europe). At that time,
people with polio affecting the respiratory muscles were immobilized
inside “iron lungs” - huge metal cylinders that operated like a pair
of bellows to regulate their breathing and keep them alive.
Children whose legs are paralyzed by polio often require crutches,
special braces or wheelchairs in order to move around.
Polio in industrialized and developing countries crippled. Thousands
of children every year in industrialized countries. Soon after the
introduction of effective vaccines in the late 1950s (IPV) and early
1960s (OPV), polio was brought under control, and practically
eliminated as a public health problem in industrialized countries.
Today, the disease has been eliminated from most of the world, and
only seven countries worldwide remain polio-endemic. This represents
the lowest number of countries with circulating wild poliovirus. At
the same time, the areas of transmission are more concentrated than
ever - 98 percent of all global cases are found in India, Nigeria and
Pakistan.
The situation of Pakistan concerning polio is not very depressing and
the efforts of Pakistani government to eradicate this disease are
positive.
At a recent seminar in Islamabad WHO representative Dr. Bouhaka said,
the incidence of polio worldwide has been reduced by 99%. The number
of countries harboring polio cases has declined from 129 in the year
1998 to just 4 in 2008.
UNICEF representative said, “Pakistan is closest to eliminating polio.
However many challenges still stand in the way. Increase
accountability and over sight by the government to are needed make a
difference.”
When specialists were approached for the right figures about polio in
Pakistan, they said only 32 cases of poliovirus were registered in
Pakistan the previous year. He told 336 million children will be
administered polio vaccines and vitamin drops during the campaign in
2008.
EPI Project Director Karachi, Dr Mazhar Khamasani, said nearly 190
cases came to surface since 2003.He said, “It is an irony of fate that
an eleven-year old girl suffering from polio was registered in North
Karachi in 2oo8.
Dr. Asif in PIMS was asked about situation in Tribal, NWFP and some
areas of Balochistan. He said, in tribal areas due to unrest,
migration of Afghan refugees, conservative customs and religious
beliefs are creating hurdle for eradication of polio disease.
EDO Health Layyah, Dr Mukhtar Hussain Syed was also approached in this
regard. He noted that Pakistan has been making efforts for two decades
to overcome this disease but in South Punjab, especially Rajan Pur
district the poliovirus is still active and many cases have been
registered.
Government claimed every year that the country would be polio free but
a number of cases come to surface every year. If Somalia can be polio
free country why not Pakistan? Is it our conservative mindset that is
creating hurdles? Whatever the reason might be but the role of WHO,
UNICEF, UNESCO and other foreign and national organizations are
commendable in fight against this disease. People are hopeful that the
newly elected government will not only provide more funds to eradicate
polio but also promote awareness through media and polio seminars.
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