Via The Times of India: India fears polio virus importation from neighboring countries. Excerpt:
Fresh outbreaks in the horn of Africa from Polio endemic Nigeria have raised concerns of importation across the subcontinent. With Pakistan being a polio endemic country, Indian officials have become more cautious of polio virus importation from the neighboring countries-Pakistan and Afghanistan (both Polio endemic). While India has gone over two years without a case of Polio, it cannot be complacent until its borders are polio free too.
Very recently, few countries in Africa - Kenya and Somalia - had reported new Polio cases which are being suspected to have happened due to virus importation through Nigeria, a currently affected country. This incident has raised an alarm in India since both Pakistan and Afghanistan are in the list of the currently affect countries.
With WHO (World Health Organisation) suspending the special outreach program against Polio in Peshawar due to the latest brutal attack on female community workers, an alarm has been raised globally.
"It is imperative to address critical issues arising in Polio eradication campaign across countries. The chance of acquiring the polio virus from Pakistan and Afghanistan are acute. We have to take every precaution possible and ensure that there is no laxity in the campaigns" said Deepak Kapur, Chairman Rotary International's India National PolioPlus Committee (INPPC).
"Members of Rotary Muslim Ulema committee have offered to extend their service or even visit Pakistan and share their voice/reasoning to dispel myths and rumors against polio vaccination", Kapur added.
