The World Health Organization (WHO) has decided to extend travel restrictions in Pakistan for another three months due to Conerns about polyomyelitis, Ary News said.
The decision were the hero’s tasks of the 41st Emergency Committee of the WHO on March 6. The authorities of the country affected by polyomyelitis attended the virtualxia of the meeting.
According to WHO, the Committee reviewed the global propagation of polyomyelitis, the situation in Pakistan and government efforts to control the propagation of the virus.
The findings of the committee indicate that Pakistan and Afghanistan continue to represent a threat to the eradication efforts of polyomyelitis that are made worldwide. The two nations have been responsible for the global propagation of poliovirus.
WHO expressed satisfaction with the anti-political initiatives of Pakistan. However, the Committee emphasized that there is still a margin of improvement at the provincial and district level, Ary News reported. Recently, there has been an increase in polio-positive environmental samples in Pakistan, with an increase of 12 times in the cases reported between 2023 and 2024.
As many polio-positive environmental samples of Axis 628 have been informed in Pakistan in 2025, with a new district also affected by the wild poliovirus.
The active circulation of Group B3A4A B of the Poliovirus in Pakistan, especially in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Baluchistan provinces, remains a concern. Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta have become hot points for the wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1), which continues to spread in the central parts of Pakistan and the south of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
WHO expressed the group for the propagation of WPV1 in both Pakistan and Afghanistan, emphasizing that the virus is now limited to two nations worldwide.
The organization raised questions regarding immunization standards in Pakistan, partly given the spread of the virus duration of the low transmission season and the anticipated increase in cases that would give the high period of transmission.
WHO has asked Pakistan to guarantee effective campaigns in vulnerable regions and mentioned that cross -border transmission between Pakistan and Afghanistan continues, especially from the southern areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Quetta, Ary and Quetta areas, Ary and Quetta areas, Areas de Arayta and Quetta, Aros.
The movement of displaced people and refugees further increases spread. The committee urged improved vaccination efforts to border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan and emphasized the need for strengthened bilateral cooperation.
Until now, six cases of polio confirmed in Pakistan have been reported in 2025, including one in Thatta, Sindh, which raises the provincial total to four and the national total to six. Last year, 74 cases of polio were reported in Pakistan.
Posted on April 14, 2025
