Pakistan: Two polio cases reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in December 2018 /update 4

Event

According to health officials in Pakistan, two cases of polio were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during December 2018. Reports indicate that one case was confirmed in Lakki Marwat, while another was reported in Bajour district.

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.