WHO Extends Int’l Travel Restrictions on Pakistan Over Polio

News Desk
ISLAMABAD: The World Health Organization (WHO) has decided to maintain international travel restrictions on Pakistan for another three months, designating Karachi as a primary epicenter for the poliovirus.
The decision to prolong the restrictions was formally recommended by the WHO Emergency Committee for Polio during its latest periodic review of global public health threats, underscoring persistent challenges in eradicating the paralyzing disease.
According to the global health body, the continuation of these precautionary measures stems from the ongoing detection of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) positive environmental samples and isolated cases, with Karachi remaining a critical focal point for virus transmission.
The emergency committee emphasized that despite rigorous national vaccination drives, localized immunity gaps and persistent virus reservoirs continue to pose regional and international public health risks.
The extended travel restrictions mandate that all international travelers departing from Pakistan must carry a valid certificate of vaccination against polio, typically administered between four weeks and twelve months prior to their journey.
These ongoing safeguards aim to prevent the cross-border spread of the virus to polio-free nations, reinforcing strict international health regulations monitored closely by global health authorities.
Federal health authorities and the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme are expected to ramp up targeted immunization campaigns, particularly across high-risk districts in Sindh and Balochistan.
National task forces are reviewing ground strategies to enhance accountability, improve vaccine coverage among mobile populations, and address community hesitancy ahead of the next WHO evaluation.