In September 2012, the Polio virus was last seen in Pakistan. It was discovered in Cairo, Egypt this past December 2013, in sewage samples. Water samples are routinely collected in the Al Salam and Al Haggana areas in Cairo. Genetic analysis have linked that the polio virus is the same strain as the one found in Pakistan. Pakistan is one of the last three countries that had the indigenous virus. It remains unclear how it arrived in Egypt from Pakistan. With evidence they are thinking that maybe a family carried it back from Pakistan and excreted it in their stool and spreading the virus in the water source. Health officials are aggressively trying to prevent outbreak of the virus and trying to prevent it from spreading. By doing so, health officials have stated that children, five years or less, leaving the country must be vaccinated with a polio vaccine at airports. A vaccine drive will also be held for everyone in Egypt on February 25, 2013. As of now, there are no reports of the people having the poliovirus, but officials are looking for children and adults who've recently become paralyzed to confirm if they indeed have contracted the virus. It is reported that this is the second time that Pakistan infected another neighboring country, besides Afghanistan. With knowing that Pakistan is the cause for spreading the poliovirus, it puts even more pressure on Pakistan to eradicate and wipe out the virus within its borders.
In knowing how the poliovirus can easily spread from one country to another is a major social/global problem. Many individuals could be affected by this virus and are fearful that it can easily cause another outbreak and spread to other neighboring countries. In Egypt and Pakistan, high population and poverty are a main concern that families who live in poor living conditions are susceptible in contracting the poliovirus. Getting everyone vaccinated would be a great help in prevention for those living in the affected area. This may help future breakouts. In taking an aggressive action in preventing the poliovirus from spreading is a major concern, but I think that researching in how the virus arrived in Egypt might be a key answer in how to help eradicate it completely in Pakistan as well. Finding and preventing the main source of spreading would help protect other neighboring countries to Pakistan.
Jacqueline Wooten
1/26/2013 10:30 AM
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