21 Oct 2018 | 05:59 PM UTC
Pakistan: Two polio cases reported in Karachi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa /update 3
Two cases of polio reported in Karachi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as of early October
Event
According to health officials in Pakistan, two cases of polio were reported in early October. Reports indicate that one case was confirmed in Karachi, while another was reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. As of October, a total of six cases of polio have been confirmed throughout Pakistan in 2018.
Context
Poliomyelitis, or polio, is an infectious disease caused by the transmission of the poliovirus through the intestines. The poliovirus is typically transmitted from one person to another by ingesting food or water containing infected fecal matter; in rare instances, it can be spread through infected saliva. Most poliovirus infections are asymptomatic while minor symptoms include fever, headache, and sore throat. One percent of infections enter the central nervous system, causing neck, back, and extremity pain, vomiting, and lethargy.
An effective vaccine against the disease exists. In late September, the Pakistani government launched a polio vaccination campaign aimed at immunizing 38.6 million children under the age of five.
Advice
Individuals in Pakistan are advised to verify their vaccination status and monitor developments to the situation.
