WHO blames Pakistan, Afghanistan for polio threat

"Pakistan and Afghanistan continue to be accountable for the global dissemination of the polio virus," stated a release from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The organization further indicated that both nations require improved bilateral collaboration to address the disease.

Vaccination against polio is compulsory for individuals traveling internationally from Pakistan.

The WHO also declared that it will assess Pakistan's anti-polio initiatives in three months. During this timeframe, Pakistan's polio surveillance will persist.

In the meantime, on Sunday, two additional polio cases were reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and one in Sindh, as per the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC).

Read more: Three new polio cases reported in Pakistan

These recent cases originated from North Waziristan, Lakki Marwat, and Umerkot, raising the total number of polio cases in the country to 17.

Polio is a highly contagious and incurable illness that can only be prevented through repeated anti-polio vaccinations, which are administered to children up to the age of five.

Despite numerous anti-polio campaigns by the government, vaccination remains a challenge in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Geographical, social, and security issues are among the obstacles to achieving complete coverage in these initiatives.