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Poliovirus
Published in Patricia G. Melloy, Viruses and Society, 2023
Many people who are a part of the GPEI have been working earnestly to eliminate polio in Pakistan. In one author’s account of her work in Pakistan in 2006 and 2007, the failure to eliminate polio from the country is tied to significant “management issues” on the ground, rather than cultural issues or a lack of knowledge of the problem. She also adds that the same global inequality issues that promote the transmission of diseases in poorer countries can also inhibit the eradication of a disease. In addition, there can be issues when outside organizations like the WHO dictate the structure and plan for a vaccine initiative inside a country (Closser 2010). Another issue mentioned in Closser’s account includes the need for many more vaccinations per individual where poliovirus is endemic. Most vaccination is done seasonally, with teams of vaccinators fanning out across areas where polio cases have been reported. Some children are vaccinated every time, up to ten or more vaccinations over time. However, certain children like nomads, refugees, and the poor may be left out when vaccinations are distributed. Unlike smallpox where a “ring vaccination” strategy can be used, many cases of polio are asymptomatic, so it is more difficult to vaccinate everyone in a particular area who may have been exposed to a polio case. The children of Pakistan face risks from many other childhood diseases too, and because of the low number of cases overall, polio has been held to an endemic level disease at this point, rather than one causing epidemics (Closser 2010). Hopefully, Pakistan and Afghanistan can finally move to elimination status in the coming years, despite these challenges.
Quality of life for post-polio syndrome: a patient derived, Rasch standard scale
Published in Disability and Rehabilitation, 2018
Carolyn A. Young, Anne-Marie C. Quincey, Samantha M. Wong, Alan Tennant
Poliomyelitis (polio) is an acute, communicable disease caused by poliovirus. The illness has varying degrees of severity, including rapid onset of acute flaccid paralysis. Prior to the development of vaccination programmes in the 1950s, polio was widespread. For example, in America in 1952, there were more than 21,000 paralytic cases.[1] Despite concerted efforts by the WHO and others, such as Rotary International, to ensure widespread vaccination and the eradication of polio, outbreaks of polio continue. From 1976–1995, there were 48 outbreaks of paralytic poliomyelitis, with a cumulative total of ∼17,000 cases reported worldwide.[2] Europe had been declared free of poliovirus from 2002 until an outbreak in 2010 in Tajikistan.[3] A 60% increase in confirmed cases of polio in Pakistan between 2009 and 2010 is a reminder of the persistence of the disease.[4]
Eradicating polio in Pakistan: a systematic review of programs and policies
Published in Expert Review of Vaccines, 2021
Anushka Ataullahjan, Hanaa Ahsan, Sajid Soofi, Muhammad Atif Habib, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it is unclear the extent of the impacts it has had on polio vaccination rates. The disruption of polio vaccination programs to control the spread of COVID-19, continued social distancing, and supply issues may have serious long-term impacts on the progress made by the polio program [139]. Now, more than ever, it is essential that Pakistan scale up its polio efforts to vaccinate missed children during the disrupted vaccines campaigns. Any gains made by the Pakistan polio program are precarious given the latent potential for polio outbreaks [117]. As we have seen with incidents such as in Cairo, polio in Pakistan is a risk to the efforts of other countries globally [117].