The Taliban health ministry announced on Monday (March 13) that the annual polio inoculation campaign will be launched in Afghanistan. The news agencies reported that the vaccination programme aims at reaching at least nine million children. It will be the second year in a row the vaccination drive has taken place under Taliban rule.&nbsp;

The World Health Organization (WHO) mentioned in a report last year in August that the polio eradication programme in Afghanistan has made critical gains after the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in 2021, but the job is far from finished.&nbsp;

Polio is caused by a virus that majorly affects nerves in the spinal cord or brain stem. Polio can lead to the affected person being unable to move certain limbs in their most severe form.&nbsp;

Polio has been virtually eliminated globally through a decades-long inoculation drive but Pakistan and Afghanistan are the two remaining countries in the world where polio is still categorised as an endemic viral infection.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/indians-top-the-list-of-foreigners-arrested-for-crimes-in-nepal-china-a-close-second-report-571619">Indians top the list of foreigners arrested for crimes in Nepal; China a close second: Report</a>&nbsp;

Insecurity, inaccessible terrain, mass displacement and suspicion of outside interference have hampered mass vaccination in Afghanistan and some areas of Pakistan.&nbsp;

As quoted by the news agency Reuters, Nek Wali Shah Momin, director of Afghanistan's National Emergency Operation Center (EOC) for Polio Eradication, said that many more areas could now be reached since the Taliban took over and the fighting stopped.&nbsp;

The EOC is led by the health ministry and includes international agencies including the WHO and the UN children's agency.&nbsp;

WATCH | Pakistan court Issues non-bailable warrant against PTI chief for threatening judge&nbsp;

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<h2>What are the challenges?&nbsp;</h2>

The Taliban's recent move of banning female workers has emerged as a massive challenge as female vaccinators were working on the polio vaccination campaign.&nbsp;

The doctor said that the women workers were crucial to accessing children who were often at home with their female caregivers who were usually not comfortable interacting with male vaccinators.&nbsp;

Some militant factions have targeted vaccination efforts in the past. In 2022, eight workers were killed in attacks in northern Afghanistan.&nbsp;

The Taliban's acting health minister Qalandar Ebad said: "The support of all Afghans, including parents, community leaders, ethnic elders, and religious leaders, is critical to eradicating polio and we want them to take part in the fight."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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The Taliban health ministry announced on Monday (March 13) that the annual polio inoculation campaign will be launched in Afghanistan. The news agencies reported that the vaccination programme aims at reaching at least nine million children.

The Taliban health ministry announced on Monday (March 13) that the annual polio inoculation campaign will be launched in Afghanistan. The news agencies reported that the vaccination programme aims at reaching at least nine million children. It will be the second year in a row the vaccination drive has taken place under Taliban rule. The World Health Organization (WHO) mentioned in a report last year in August that the polio eradication programme in Afghanistan has made critical gains after the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in 2021, but the job is far from finished. Polio is caused by a virus that majorly affects nerves in the spinal cord or brain stem. Polio can lead to the affected person being unable to move certain limbs in their most severe form. Polio has been virtually eliminated globally through a decades-long inoculation drive but Pakistan and Afghanistan are the two remaining countries in the world where polio is still categorised as an endemic viral infection. ALSO READ | Indians top the list of foreigners arrested for crimes in Nepal; China a close second: Report Insecurity, inaccessible terrain, mass displacement and suspicion of outside interference have hampered mass vaccination in Afghanistan and some areas of Pakistan. As quoted by the news agency Reuters, Nek Wali Shah Momin, director of Afghanistan's National Emergency Operation Center (EOC) for Polio Eradication, said that many more areas could now be reached since the Taliban took over and the fighting stopped. The EOC is led by the health ministry and includes international agencies including the WHO and the UN children's agency. WATCH | Pakistan court Issues non-bailable warrant against PTI chief for threatening judge × What are the challenges? The Taliban's recent move of banning female workers has emerged as a massive challenge as female vaccinators were working on the polio vaccination campaign. The doctor said that the women workers were crucial to accessing children who were often at home with their female caregivers who were usually not comfortable interacting with male vaccinators. Some militant factions have targeted vaccination efforts in the past. In 2022, eight workers were killed in attacks in northern Afghanistan. The Taliban's acting health minister Qalandar Ebad said: "The support of all Afghans, including parents, community leaders, ethnic elders, and religious leaders, is critical to eradicating polio and we want them to take part in the fight." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Afghanistan: Taliban health ministry launches annual polio vaccination drive

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced on Sunday that it will contribute $1.2 billion to the effort to eradicate polio.

"Polio eradication is within reach. But as far as we have come, the disease remains a threat," Bill Gates, co-chair of the foundation, said in a statement.

The funding will go to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a national government-led public-private collaboration with the goal of eradicating the illness by 2026.

A virus that enters the central nervous system and damages cells in the spinal cord and brain is the main cause of polio.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/report-billionaire-philanthropist-mackenzie-scott-donates-15-million-to-help-provide-affordable-glasses-525143">Report: Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donates $15 million to provide glasses to workers, farmers</a>

Those who survive the illness are frequently left paralysed or with atrophied and deformed limbs.

Children under the age of five are most usually affected by polio, although everyone who has not had the vaccine is susceptible.

According to a statement from the foundation, the GPEI has helped prevent more than 20 million cases of paralysis and reduced the number of occurrences of polio by more than 99 percent globally since its inception in 1988.

Although Malawi and Mozambique also discovered imported wild <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/london-parents-urged-to-get-their-children-vaccinated-against-polio-525146">polio cases</a> in 2022, Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two nations where the polio virus is still endemic.

"Despite this historic progress, interruptions in routine immunisation, vaccine misinformation, political unrest, and the tragic floods in Pakistan in 2022 have underscored the urgent need to finish the job against polio," the foundation said.

Another concern is that "countries that had previously eliminated all forms of polio virus have recently reported new detections of the virus", such as Britain and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-and-his-truth-social-app-broke-federal-securities-laws-alleges-whistleblower-525971">US</a>, it said.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rotary International, and the World Health Organization (WHO) are participants in the GPEI (CDC).

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced on Sunday that it will contribute $1.2 billion to the effort to eradicate polio. "Polio eradication is within reach.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced on Sunday that it will contribute $1.2 billion to the effort to eradicate polio. "Polio eradication is within reach. But as far as we have come, the disease remains a threat," Bill Gates, co-chair of the foundation, said in a statement. The funding will go to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a national government-led public-private collaboration with the goal of eradicating the illness by 2026. A virus that enters the central nervous system and damages cells in the spinal cord and brain is the main cause of polio. Also read | Report: Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donates $15 million to provide glasses to workers, farmers Those who survive the illness are frequently left paralysed or with atrophied and deformed limbs. Children under the age of five are most usually affected by polio, although everyone who has not had the vaccine is susceptible. According to a statement from the foundation, the GPEI has helped prevent more than 20 million cases of paralysis and reduced the number of occurrences of polio by more than 99 percent globally since its inception in 1988. Although Malawi and Mozambique also discovered imported wild polio cases in 2022, Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two nations where the polio virus is still endemic. "Despite this historic progress, interruptions in routine immunisation, vaccine misinformation, political unrest, and the tragic floods in Pakistan in 2022 have underscored the urgent need to finish the job against polio," the foundation said. Another concern is that "countries that had previously eliminated all forms of polio virus have recently reported new detections of the virus", such as Britain and the US, it said. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rotary International, and the World Health Organization (WHO) are participants in the GPEI (CDC). (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Gates Foundation pledges $1.2 billion to Polio eradication

To eradicate polio in its last remaining strongholds, generally in underdeveloped, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/polio-outbreak-in-new-york-two-cases-within-weeks-last-case-before-this-was-in-2013-506352">politically insecure regions</a> of the world, global health officials have been using billions of drops of an oral vaccine in a campaign that has shown to be highly&nbsp;effective.

In a shocking turn of events in the long-running campaign to eradicate the virus, authorities in Jerusalem, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/health-and-wellness/is-polio-back-in-the-us-502825">New York</a>, and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-doctor-warns-for-undiagnosed-polio-cases-uk-to-provide-booster-for-kids-under-10-505097">London</a> have now found signs that polio is spreading there.

What was the virus's initial source? The oral vaccination itself!

This incredibly unusual event is well known to scientists. For this reason, some nations have shifted to different polio vaccines. However, as the world gets closer to eradicating the illness and the number of cases brought on by the wild, or naturally circulating, virus declines, these incidental infections from the oral formula are becoming more obvious.

In contrast to the more than 2,600 instances of polio linked to the oral vaccine since 2017, the World Health Organization and its partners report that there have only been 396 cases of polio caused by the wild virus.

“We are basically replacing the wild virus with the virus in the vaccine, which is now leading to new outbreaks,” said Scott Barrett, a Columbia University professor who has studied polio eradication. “I would assume that countries like the U.K. and the U.S. will be able to stop transmission quite quickly, but we also thought that about monkeypox.”

The most recent occurrences mark the first appearance of the vaccine-associated polio virus in developed nations in several years.

Hover over the map for the figures.&nbsp;

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Data visualisation credits: Our world in data

Israeli authorities discovered polio earlier this year in a 3-year-old who had not received the vaccine and had paralysis. Other kids, almost all of whom were unvaccinated, were also discovered to have the virus but no symptoms.

Although no human illnesses were found, British authorities announced in June finding indications in sewage indicating the virus was spreading. The government announced last week that all kids in London between the ages of 1 and 9 would receive a booster vaccination.

According to New York officials, a young adult who was not immunised and contracted polio in the United States eventually developed paralysis in his legs. The virus has also been found in the sewers of New York, indicating that it is spreading.

However, officials claimed that they do not intend to launch a booster campaign since they feel that the state's high vaccination rate should provide adequate defence.

The viruses in the three nations were all "vaccine-derived," meaning they were mutated variations of a virus that originated in the oral vaccine, genetic tests revealed.

Since 1988, the oral vaccination in question has been used to protect entire communities where polio is on the rise since it is less expensive, simple to give (two drops are placed right into the mouths of children). The live virus is present, although in attenuated form.

These outbreaks usually start when vaccinated individuals pass live virus from the vaccine in their faeces. From there, the disease can spread among the local population and, with time, evolve into a form that can paralyse individuals and spark new epidemics.

To prevent these dangers, several polio-free nations switched decades ago to injectable vaccines that contained a virus that had already been killed; the Nordic nations and the Netherlands never used the oral vaccine. When wild polio is eliminated, the ultimate goal is to transfer the entire world over to vaccinations, although other scientists contend that the transition should be made sooner.

“We probably could never have gotten on top of polio in the developing world without the (oral polio vaccine), but this is the price we’re now paying,” said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “The only way we are going to eliminate polio is to eliminate the use of the oral vaccine.”

The discovery of polio spreading in London and New York, according to Aidan O'Leary, director of the WHO's polio department, was "a major surprise," as officials had been concentrating on eliminating the disease in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where medical personnel have been killed for immunising children and where conflict has made access to some areas difficult.

O'Leary nonetheless expressed his confidence that Israel, Britain, and the U.S. will swiftly contain their recently discovered breakouts.

The oral vaccine is credited with significantly lowering the number of kids who get polio-related paralysis. There were roughly 350,000 cases of wild polio annually when the global eradication effort started in 1988.

There have been 19 instances of wild polio this year so far, all of which have occurred in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Mozambique.

More than 1,100 cases of polio associated with the vaccine were reported at their peak in 2020, dispersed across many different nations. Since then, it has decreased to about 200 so far this year.

The WHO and its partners also started using a more recent oral polio vaccine last year. It contains a live but weakened virus that researchers believe has a lower chance of mutating into a harmful version. Supply, however, is constrained.

More immunisation is required, according to experts, to eradicate polio in Israel, Britain, and the United States. Barrett of Columbia University is concerned that in the COVID-19 era, this may be difficult.

(With inputs from agencies)

Also watch:&nbsp;United Kingdom: Urgent polio boosters for London children

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To eradicate polio in its last remaining strongholds, generally in underdeveloped, politically insecure regions of the world, global health officials have been using billions of drops of an oral vaccine in a campaign that has shown to be highly effective.

To eradicate polio in its last remaining strongholds, generally in underdeveloped, politically insecure regions of the world, global health officials have been using billions of drops of an oral vaccine in a campaign that has shown to be highly effective. In a shocking turn of events in the long-running campaign to eradicate the virus, authorities in Jerusalem, New York, and London have now found signs that polio is spreading there. What was the virus's initial source? The oral vaccination itself! This incredibly unusual event is well known to scientists. For this reason, some nations have shifted to different polio vaccines. However, as the world gets closer to eradicating the illness and the number of cases brought on by the wild, or naturally circulating, virus declines, these incidental infections from the oral formula are becoming more obvious. In contrast to the more than 2,600 instances of polio linked to the oral vaccine since 2017, the World Health Organization and its partners report that there have only been 396 cases of polio caused by the wild virus. “We are basically replacing the wild virus with the virus in the vaccine, which is now leading to new outbreaks,” said Scott Barrett, a Columbia University professor who has studied polio eradication. “I would assume that countries like the U.K. and the U.S. will be able to stop transmission quite quickly, but we also thought that about monkeypox.” The most recent occurrences mark the first appearance of the vaccine-associated polio virus in developed nations in several years. Hover over the map for the figures. × Data visualisation credits: Our world in data Israeli authorities discovered polio earlier this year in a 3-year-old who had not received the vaccine and had paralysis. Other kids, almost all of whom were unvaccinated, were also discovered to have the virus but no symptoms. Although no human illnesses were found, British authorities announced in June finding indications in sewage indicating the virus was spreading. The government announced last week that all kids in London between the ages of 1 and 9 would receive a booster vaccination. According to New York officials, a young adult who was not immunised and contracted polio in the United States eventually developed paralysis in his legs. The virus has also been found in the sewers of New York, indicating that it is spreading. However, officials claimed that they do not intend to launch a booster campaign since they feel that the state's high vaccination rate should provide adequate defence. The viruses in the three nations were all "vaccine-derived," meaning they were mutated variations of a virus that originated in the oral vaccine, genetic tests revealed. Since 1988, the oral vaccination in question has been used to protect entire communities where polio is on the rise since it is less expensive, simple to give (two drops are placed right into the mouths of children). The live virus is present, although in attenuated form. These outbreaks usually start when vaccinated individuals pass live virus from the vaccine in their faeces. From there, the disease can spread among the local population and, with time, evolve into a form that can paralyse individuals and spark new epidemics. To prevent these dangers, several polio-free nations switched decades ago to injectable vaccines that contained a virus that had already been killed; the Nordic nations and the Netherlands never used the oral vaccine. When wild polio is eliminated, the ultimate goal is to transfer the entire world over to vaccinations, although other scientists contend that the transition should be made sooner. “We probably could never have gotten on top of polio in the developing world without the (oral polio vaccine), but this is the price we’re now paying,” said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “The only way we are going to eliminate polio is to eliminate the use of the oral vaccine.” The discovery of polio spreading in London and New York, according to Aidan O'Leary, director of the WHO's polio department, was "a major surprise," as officials had been concentrating on eliminating the disease in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where medical personnel have been killed for immunising children and where conflict has made access to some areas difficult. O'Leary nonetheless expressed his confidence that Israel, Britain, and the U.S. will swiftly contain their recently discovered breakouts. The oral vaccine is credited with significantly lowering the number of kids who get polio-related paralysis. There were roughly 350,000 cases of wild polio annually when the global eradication effort started in 1988. There have been 19 instances of wild polio this year so far, all of which have occurred in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Mozambique. More than 1,100 cases of polio associated with the vaccine were reported at their peak in 2020, dispersed across many different nations. Since then, it has decreased to about 200 so far this year. The WHO and its partners also started using a more recent oral polio vaccine last year. It contains a live but weakened virus that researchers believe has a lower chance of mutating into a harmful version. Supply, however, is constrained. More immunisation is required, according to experts, to eradicate polio in Israel, Britain, and the United States. Barrett of Columbia University is concerned that in the COVID-19 era, this may be difficult. (With inputs from agencies) Also watch: United Kingdom: Urgent polio boosters for London children

Polio in the US, UK, and Israel reveals an uncommon danger of the oral vaccine

The city of New York registered its first case of Polio last month. Following which, the New York State Department of Health launched a wastewater surveillance, among other notable efforts, to look for the root cause of the virus.&nbsp; According to the New York State department of Health, the <a href="https://www.health.ny.gov/press/releases/2022/2022-08-01_polio.htm">results </a>confirmed the presence of the polio virus in the wastewater samples collected from Rockland County in June. Since then, Health officials have been urging residents to get themselves vaccinated against the virus.&nbsp;

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The discovery of the disease from wastewater samples collected in June means the virus was present in the community even&nbsp;before the Rockland county adult’s diagnosis was made public on July 21. This marks the return of the virus in the US after nearly a decade.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an emailed statement that the presence of the virus in wastewater indicates there may be more people in the community shedding the virus in their feces.&nbsp;

However, the CDC added there have been no new cases identified, and that it is not yet clear whether the virus is actively spreading in New York or elsewhere in the United States.

Laboratory tests also confirmed the strain in the case is genetically linked to one found in Israel, although that did not mean the patient had travelled to Israel, officials added.

<img alt="Reported Paralytic cases in the US. Source: Our world in data, WHO" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1f689fe0-14bc-48db-bb92-dc96754815b9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/CREATIVE_US_POLIO_CASES_AND_DEATHS.jpg" />

As per reports, the patient had started exhibiting symptoms in June, when local officials asked doctors to be on the lookout for cases.

There is no cure for polio, which can cause irreversible paralysis in some cases, but it can be prevented by a vaccine made available in 1955.

Polio is often asymptomatic and people can transmit the virus even when they do not appear sick. But it can produce mild, flu-like symptoms that can take as long as 30 days to appear.&nbsp;

It can affect individuals at any age, but most commonly affects children aged three and younger.

New York officials have said they are opening vaccine clinics to help unvaccinated residents get their shots. Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is the only polio vaccine that has been given in the United States since 2000, according to the CDC. It is given by shot in the leg or arm, depending on the patient’s age.

The polio vaccine developed by Dr Jonas Salk in the 1950s was a scientific breakthrough to tackle the global scourge. The United States has not seen a polio case in the country since 1979.

(With inputs from agencies)

The city of New York registered its first case of Polio last month. Following which, the New York State Department of Health launched a wastewater surveillance, among other notable efforts, to look for the root cause of the virus.

The city of New York registered its first case of Polio last month. Following which, the New York State Department of Health launched a wastewater surveillance, among other notable efforts, to look for the root cause of the virus. According to the New York State department of Health, the results confirmed the presence of the polio virus in the wastewater samples collected from Rockland County in June. Since then, Health officials have been urging residents to get themselves vaccinated against the virus. The discovery of the disease from wastewater samples collected in June means the virus was present in the community even before the Rockland county adult’s diagnosis was made public on July 21. This marks the return of the virus in the US after nearly a decade. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an emailed statement that the presence of the virus in wastewater indicates there may be more people in the community shedding the virus in their feces. However, the CDC added there have been no new cases identified, and that it is not yet clear whether the virus is actively spreading in New York or elsewhere in the United States. Laboratory tests also confirmed the strain in the case is genetically linked to one found in Israel, although that did not mean the patient had travelled to Israel, officials added. As per reports, the patient had started exhibiting symptoms in June, when local officials asked doctors to be on the lookout for cases. There is no cure for polio, which can cause irreversible paralysis in some cases, but it can be prevented by a vaccine made available in 1955. Polio is often asymptomatic and people can transmit the virus even when they do not appear sick. But it can produce mild, flu-like symptoms that can take as long as 30 days to appear. It can affect individuals at any age, but most commonly affects children aged three and younger. New York officials have said they are opening vaccine clinics to help unvaccinated residents get their shots. Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is the only polio vaccine that has been given in the United States since 2000, according to the CDC. It is given by shot in the leg or arm, depending on the patient’s age. The polio vaccine developed by Dr Jonas Salk in the 1950s was a scientific breakthrough to tackle the global scourge. The United States has not seen a polio case in the country since 1979. (With inputs from agencies)

Is Polio back in the US?

An&nbsp;Afghan&nbsp;group&nbsp;opposed to Taliban rule rejected on Sunday the police's accusation that its members had killed&nbsp;polio&nbsp;vaccinators&nbsp;on a campaign to eradicate the crippling virus.

Police had said two members of the National Resistance Front (NRF) had been arrested in connection with killing seven&nbsp;vaccinators&nbsp;on February 24 in the northern province of Kunduz.

The NRF were the last&nbsp;group&nbsp;to hold out against the Taliban takeover last year, retreating to the Panjshir Valley, which eventually fell in September, weeks after the former government forces capitulated.

The health workers were killed in separate attacks while on a house-to-house vaccine campaign.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-pakistan-agree-on-free-movement-of-cargo-trucks-460901">Afghanistan, Pakistan agree on free movement of cargo trucks</a>

"The arrested men have confessed to their crime and said they shot the&nbsp;polio&nbsp;vaccinators&nbsp;after receiving orders from their leaders from the Resistance Front in the province," Kunduz police spokesman Qari Obaidullah Abedi had told AFP.

According to the spokesman, the arrested men also confessed that "they were paid" for the murders.

NRF rejected the accusations as "Taliban propaganda".

"The National Resistance Front condemns the perpetrators of this attack and we strongly believe it was conducted by the Taliban or one of their terrorist partners," Ali Nazary, spokesman for the NRF, told AFP.

The NRF is led by the son of legendary late anti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was assassinated by Al-Qaeda in 2001.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/narcotics-trafficking-has-intensified-since-afghanistan-developments-nsa-doval-460704">&nbsp;Narcotics trafficking has intensified since Afghanistan 'developments': NSA Doval</a>

In total, eight&nbsp;polio&nbsp;vaccinators&nbsp;were killed on February 24 -- seven in Kunduz and one in the neighbouring province of Takhar.

Polio&nbsp;teams in Afghanistan were frequently targeted by insurgent groups until the Taliban's takeover in August.

Since then, the hardline Islamists have said they want to work with the United Nations to stamp out the disease.

Watch |&nbsp;Conference on Afghanistan: How can extremism be countered?

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In the past,&nbsp;polio&nbsp;vaccination drives in Afghanistan -- and neighbouring Pakistan -- were accused of being fronts for spying, while some clerics said the vaccine was a conspiracy to sterilise Muslims.

Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries in the world where&nbsp;polio&nbsp;remains endemic.&nbsp;

An Afghan group opposed to Taliban rule rejected on Sunday the police's accusation that its members had killed polio vaccinators on a campaign to eradicate the crippling virus.

An Afghan group opposed to Taliban rule rejected on Sunday the police's accusation that its members had killed polio vaccinators on a campaign to eradicate the crippling virus. Police had said two members of the National Resistance Front (NRF) had been arrested in connection with killing seven vaccinators on February 24 in the northern province of Kunduz. The NRF were the last group to hold out against the Taliban takeover last year, retreating to the Panjshir Valley, which eventually fell in September, weeks after the former government forces capitulated. The health workers were killed in separate attacks while on a house-to-house vaccine campaign. Also read | Afghanistan, Pakistan agree on free movement of cargo trucks "The arrested men have confessed to their crime and said they shot the polio vaccinators after receiving orders from their leaders from the Resistance Front in the province," Kunduz police spokesman Qari Obaidullah Abedi had told AFP. According to the spokesman, the arrested men also confessed that "they were paid" for the murders. NRF rejected the accusations as "Taliban propaganda". "The National Resistance Front condemns the perpetrators of this attack and we strongly believe it was conducted by the Taliban or one of their terrorist partners," Ali Nazary, spokesman for the NRF, told AFP. The NRF is led by the son of legendary late anti-Taliban commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was assassinated by Al-Qaeda in 2001. Also read | Narcotics trafficking has intensified since Afghanistan 'developments': NSA Doval In total, eight polio vaccinators were killed on February 24 -- seven in Kunduz and one in the neighbouring province of Takhar. Polio teams in Afghanistan were frequently targeted by insurgent groups until the Taliban's takeover in August. Since then, the hardline Islamists have said they want to work with the United Nations to stamp out the disease. Watch | Conference on Afghanistan: How can extremism be countered? In the past, polio vaccination drives in Afghanistan -- and neighbouring Pakistan -- were accused of being fronts for spying, while some clerics said the vaccine was a conspiracy to sterilise Muslims. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries in the world where polio remains endemic.

Afghan group rejects murdering polio vaccinators

Malawi&nbsp;said Thursday it will launch a nationwide&nbsp;polio&nbsp;vaccination campaign&nbsp;next&nbsp;month&nbsp;following the detection of its first case in 30 years and Africa's first in five years.

The southern African country announced the discovery of a wild poliovirus case a week ago in a four-year girl.

The child had not been fully immunised, according to the World Health Organization's representative in&nbsp;Malawi, Janet Kayita.

Authorities are now rushing to inoculate nearly three million children aged under five years.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/a-joint-commitment-who-unicef-launch-polio-vaccine-campaign-in-afghanistan-427657">'A joint commitment': WHO, UNICEF launch polio vaccine campaign in Afghanistan</a>

"The upcoming&nbsp;polio&nbsp;vaccination campaign in four weeks' time... will target around 2.9 million children across the country,"&nbsp;Malawi's health ministry director, Queen Dube, told AFP.

Malawi&nbsp;has placed an order of around 14 million doses of vaccines.

The vaccination is expected to extend beyond&nbsp;Malawi's borders, targeting selected districts in neighbouring countries, she said.

Dube said an emergency meeting of international health regulators was due on Monday and may recommend mandatory vaccination for travellers to&nbsp;Malawi&nbsp;to help curb the spread of the virus.

UNICEF's representative in&nbsp;Malawi, Rudolf Schwenk, on Tuesday described the&nbsp;outbreak&nbsp;"a very serious situation".

"We have to collectively take quick action because it's a national emergency," he said at a news conference.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-can-end-in-2022-if-says-who-chief-ghebreyesus-amid-omicron-spread-441759">'COVID-19 can end in 2022, if…', says WHO chief Ghebreyesus amid Omicron spread</a>

President Lazarus Chakwera has declared a national health emergency.

Laboratory analysis showed that the detected strain is linked to one that has been circulating in Sindh Province in Pakistan.&nbsp;

Dube said it was "difficult" to establish how the Malawian child became infected.

Polio, an acutely contagious virus which attacks the spinal cord and causes irreversible paralysis in children, remains endemic in Pakistan and its neighbour Afghanistan.

The disease can be prevented with a highly effective and very cheap vaccine.

Watch |&nbsp;WHO, UNICEF launch polio campaign in Afghanistan

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/who-unicef-launch-polio-campaign-in-afghanistan-428163/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Africa was declared free of indigenous wild&nbsp;polio&nbsp;in August 2020&nbsp;after&nbsp;an exhaustive&nbsp;immunisation&nbsp;campaign.

No&nbsp;polio&nbsp;cases had occurred on the continent for the previous four years -- the threshold for eradication.

Malawi said Thursday it will launch a nationwide polio vaccination campaign next month following the detection of its first case in 30 years and Africa's first in five years.

Malawi said Thursday it will launch a nationwide polio vaccination campaign next month following the detection of its first case in 30 years and Africa's first in five years. The southern African country announced the discovery of a wild poliovirus case a week ago in a four-year girl. The child had not been fully immunised, according to the World Health Organization's representative in Malawi, Janet Kayita. Authorities are now rushing to inoculate nearly three million children aged under five years. Also read | 'A joint commitment': WHO, UNICEF launch polio vaccine campaign in Afghanistan "The upcoming polio vaccination campaign in four weeks' time... will target around 2.9 million children across the country," Malawi's health ministry director, Queen Dube, told AFP. Malawi has placed an order of around 14 million doses of vaccines. The vaccination is expected to extend beyond Malawi's borders, targeting selected districts in neighbouring countries, she said. Dube said an emergency meeting of international health regulators was due on Monday and may recommend mandatory vaccination for travellers to Malawi to help curb the spread of the virus. UNICEF's representative in Malawi, Rudolf Schwenk, on Tuesday described the outbreak "a very serious situation". "We have to collectively take quick action because it's a national emergency," he said at a news conference. Also read | 'COVID-19 can end in 2022, if…', says WHO chief Ghebreyesus amid Omicron spread President Lazarus Chakwera has declared a national health emergency. Laboratory analysis showed that the detected strain is linked to one that has been circulating in Sindh Province in Pakistan. Dube said it was "difficult" to establish how the Malawian child became infected. Polio, an acutely contagious virus which attacks the spinal cord and causes irreversible paralysis in children, remains endemic in Pakistan and its neighbour Afghanistan. The disease can be prevented with a highly effective and very cheap vaccine. Watch | WHO, UNICEF launch polio campaign in Afghanistan Africa was declared free of indigenous wild polio in August 2020 after an exhaustive immunisation campaign. No polio cases had occurred on the continent for the previous four years -- the threshold for eradication.

Malawi polio immunisation starts next month after outbreak

Africa is set to be declared as a 'polio-free- region by the World Health Organization (WHO) on August 25, fiur years after cases re-emerged in northeastern Nigeria.

The WHO thanked volunteers, donors, local leaders and communities, and front line health workers who put in efforts round the clock to save children from the crippling disease.

"Thanks to the relentless efforts by governments, donors, frontline health workers, and communities, up to 1.8 million children have been saved from the crippling lifelong paralysis," the WHO said in a statement.

Wild polio, classified as an endemic had been crippling the childen of Africa by leaving them paralysed. The WHO and health experts were successful in finishing the disease from the continent, until few years ago when handful cases re-emerged in Nigeria. However, four years after the recent cases, the continent is now certified as polio-free.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pandemic-pace-slows-worldwide-except-for-southeast-asia-eastern-mediterranean-who-322990">Also read|&nbsp;Pandemic pace slows worldwide except for Southeast Asia, Eastern Mediterranean: WHO</a>

The local doctors have expressed joy of relief for this achievement.&nbsp;"Happiness is an understatement. We've been on this marathon for over 30 years," said Tunji Funsho, a Nigerian doctor and local anti-polio coordinator for Rotary International.

The official announcement was made through a videoconference, which was attended by the&nbsp;WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and key figures including philanthropist and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

After Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan will be the only countries to have polio cases now.

African officials had to fight not only with polio, but also with extremists who protested against the vaccine, alleging the vaccine was an excuse to negatively affect children's health. Various health officials had to face the threat of violence from extremists groups. The health officials took help from 'health informants' and local leaders to gain trust of such groups.

"People trust their local traditional leaders who live with them more than the political leaders," said Grema Mundube, a community leader in the town of Monguno, in the far north of Nigeria.

"Once we spoke to them and they saw us immunising our children, they gradually accepted the vaccine," he continued.

Dr Musa Idowu Audu, coordinator for the WHO in Borno also took a moment to remember and thank the leaders and the officials who lost their lives or became victims of violence while making sure the vaccines reach the affeted children. Remembering the days and thanking teh officials for their efforts, eh said,&nbsp;"International agencies, local governments, donors — all partners took the bull by the horns to find new strategies to manage to reach these children."

Audu also said that while he is happy that Africa will now be a 'polio-free' continent, he hopes no new case arrives from Afghanistan and Pakistan, and all children, in future, get vaccinated on time.

Africa is set to be declared as a 'polio-free- region by the World Health Organization (WHO) on August 25, fiur years after cases re-emerged in northeastern Nigeria.

Africa is set to be declared as a 'polio-free- region by the World Health Organization (WHO) on August 25, fiur years after cases re-emerged in northeastern Nigeria. The WHO thanked volunteers, donors, local leaders and communities, and front line health workers who put in efforts round the clock to save children from the crippling disease. "Thanks to the relentless efforts by governments, donors, frontline health workers, and communities, up to 1.8 million children have been saved from the crippling lifelong paralysis," the WHO said in a statement. Wild polio, classified as an endemic had been crippling the childen of Africa by leaving them paralysed. The WHO and health experts were successful in finishing the disease from the continent, until few years ago when handful cases re-emerged in Nigeria. However, four years after the recent cases, the continent is now certified as polio-free. Also read| Pandemic pace slows worldwide except for Southeast Asia, Eastern Mediterranean: WHO The local doctors have expressed joy of relief for this achievement. "Happiness is an understatement. We've been on this marathon for over 30 years," said Tunji Funsho, a Nigerian doctor and local anti-polio coordinator for Rotary International. The official announcement was made through a videoconference, which was attended by the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and key figures including philanthropist and Microsoft founder Bill Gates. After Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan will be the only countries to have polio cases now. African officials had to fight not only with polio, but also with extremists who protested against the vaccine, alleging the vaccine was an excuse to negatively affect children's health. Various health officials had to face the threat of violence from extremists groups. The health officials took help from 'health informants' and local leaders to gain trust of such groups. "People trust their local traditional leaders who live with them more than the political leaders," said Grema Mundube, a community leader in the town of Monguno, in the far north of Nigeria. "Once we spoke to them and they saw us immunising our children, they gradually accepted the vaccine," he continued. Dr Musa Idowu Audu, coordinator for the WHO in Borno also took a moment to remember and thank the leaders and the officials who lost their lives or became victims of violence while making sure the vaccines reach the affeted children. Remembering the days and thanking teh officials for their efforts, eh said, "International agencies, local governments, donors — all partners took the bull by the horns to find new strategies to manage to reach these children." Audu also said that while he is happy that Africa will now be a 'polio-free' continent, he hopes no new case arrives from Afghanistan and Pakistan, and all children, in future, get vaccinated on time.

WHO to certify Africa 'polio free' after 30 years of fighting

A policeman was killed and two others wounded Tuesday by a roadside bomb aimed at polio vaccination workers in Pakistan's restive northwest, officials said. The attack came a day after Islamabad launched a nationwide anti-polio drive, aiming to immunise tens of millions of children in Pakistan - one of only three countries, along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, where the crippling disease remains endemic.

A policeman was killed and two others wounded Tuesday by a roadside bomb aimed at polio vaccination workers in Pakistan's restive northwest, officials said. The attack came a day after Islamabad launched a nationwide anti-polio drive, aiming to immunise tens of millions of children in Pakistan - one of only three countries, along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, where the crippling disease remains endemic. Opposition to inoculations grew after the CIA organised a fake vaccination drive to help track down Al-Qaeda's former leader Osama Bin Laden in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad. According to Captain Wahid Mehmood, a district police chief, a police van monitoring the polio team was hit on the outskirts of the northwestern city of Dera Ismail Khan. "It was an IED (improvised explosive device) explosion in which one of our policemen got martyred while two others were wounded", Mehmood told reporters. Also Read: Pakistan approaches international community over Kashmir but commits genocide in Balochistan: Baloch leader adaqat Khan, a local police official, confirmed the toll. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the Pakistani Taliban and other militants have targeted polio vaccinators in the past. The nationwide polio vaccination campaign aims to vaccinate some 39 million children. Tuesday's attack follows a devastating year in Pakistan's long fight against polio, with at least 17 cases reported in 2020 so far. In 2019, the number of polio cases jumped to 144 from just 12 in 2018. Even as Pakistan has tried to eliminate polio, a new challenge has emerged in the form of a growing global movement against vaccinations. The phenomenon has attracted adherents worldwide, fuelled by medically baseless claims and proliferated on social media resulting in a resurgence of once-eradicated, highly contagious diseases.

Pakistan policeman killed as blast hits polio vaccine team

Directorate of Family Welfare, MCH and Immunization on Wednesday said that the recent Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme has succeeded in achieving 100 per cent coverage of target population in Jammu and Kashmir as 19,85,021 children in the age bracket of 0-5 years were administered oral polio vaccine against the target of 19,85,021 children.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-to-import-polio-markers-from-india-price-of-89-medicines-reduced-by-15-270164/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to the figures compiled by Data and Media Cell, Directorate of Family Welfare, MCH and Immunization, in Kashmir division, against the total target of 10,69,470 children, 10,64,941 children were administered oral polio vaccine against the crippling disease.

Whereas, in the Jammu division, against the target of 9,15,551 children, 9,20,439 children were given polio drops amounting to 100 per cent of the total target children.

Respective divisional and district administrations had made elaborate arrangements to cover all the children in the age group of 0-5 years. Furthermore, health workers and volunteers carried door-to-door visits in their allotted areas to ensure no child is left out of the vaccination programme.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Directorate of Family Welfare, MCH and Immunization on Wednesday said that the recent Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme has succeeded in achieving 100 per cent coverage of target population in Jammu and Kashmir as 19,85,021 children in the age bracket of 0-5 years were administered oral polio vaccine against the target of 19,85,021 children.

Directorate of Family Welfare, MCH and Immunization on Wednesday said that the recent Pulse Polio Immunisation Programme has succeeded in achieving 100 per cent coverage of target population in Jammu and Kashmir as 19,85,021 children in the age bracket of 0-5 years were administered oral polio vaccine against the target of 19,85,021 children. According to the figures compiled by Data and Media Cell, Directorate of Family Welfare, MCH and Immunization, in Kashmir division, against the total target of 10,69,470 children, 10,64,941 children were administered oral polio vaccine against the crippling disease. Whereas, in the Jammu division, against the target of 9,15,551 children, 9,20,439 children were given polio drops amounting to 100 per cent of the total target children. Respective divisional and district administrations had made elaborate arrangements to cover all the children in the age group of 0-5 years. Furthermore, health workers and volunteers carried door-to-door visits in their allotted areas to ensure no child is left out of the vaccination programme.

Jammu and Kashmir: More than 19 lakh children registered for polio vaccination

Facebook has blocked at least 31 accounts which were reportedly involved in spreading "propaganda" against polio vaccination in Pakistan.

This comes after Imran Khan-led PTI government in Pakistan requested the social media giant to take action against the accounts.

On Monday, rumours swirled over social media that a one-year-old girl had died after she was administrated with the polio vaccines.

"Print and electronic media showed responsibility and decided to wait till getting the autopsy report of the deceased. However, an organised campaign was launched on the social media that the girl had died because of the vaccine and people should not vaccinate their children," Prime Minister's Focal Person on Polio, Babar Bin Atta said.

However, the autopsy has cited suffocation to be a cause of girl's death. Following this, the government approached Facebook with its demand.

"As per the autopsy report, the girl died due to suffocation as a peanut got stuck in her throat. Just after getting the report we contacted Facebook and officially launched a campaign against those accounts which were involved in propaganda against the vaccine," he said.

While 58 cases have been confirmed in the South Asian country until now, only 12 and eight cases were confirmed in 2018 and 2017, respectively.

While polio is highly infectious, it is easily preventable by the polio vaccine.

Polio cases are presently reported from two countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Due to this, nationals of either of the countries undertaking travel abroad are recommended to be vaccinated at the start of their journey by the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB).

Facebook has blocked at least 31 accounts which were reportedly involved in spreading "propaganda" against polio vaccination in Pakistan. This comes after Imran Khan-led PTI government in Pakistan requested the social media giant to take action against the accounts.

Facebook has blocked at least 31 accounts which were reportedly involved in spreading "propaganda" against polio vaccination in Pakistan. This comes after Imran Khan-led PTI government in Pakistan requested the social media giant to take action against the accounts. On Monday, rumours swirled over social media that a one-year-old girl had died after she was administrated with the polio vaccines. "Print and electronic media showed responsibility and decided to wait till getting the autopsy report of the deceased. However, an organised campaign was launched on the social media that the girl had died because of the vaccine and people should not vaccinate their children," Prime Minister's Focal Person on Polio, Babar Bin Atta said. However, the autopsy has cited suffocation to be a cause of girl's death. Following this, the government approached Facebook with its demand. "As per the autopsy report, the girl died due to suffocation as a peanut got stuck in her throat. Just after getting the report we contacted Facebook and officially launched a campaign against those accounts which were involved in propaganda against the vaccine," he said. While 58 cases have been confirmed in the South Asian country until now, only 12 and eight cases were confirmed in 2018 and 2017, respectively. While polio is highly infectious, it is easily preventable by the polio vaccine. Polio cases are presently reported from two countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Due to this, nationals of either of the countries undertaking travel abroad are recommended to be vaccinated at the start of their journey by the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB).

After Pakistan's demand, Facebook blocks 31 accounts for spreading 'propaganda' against polio vaccination

The Taliban have shut down dozens of health facilities run by a Swedish aid group in a move affecting thousands of people, especially women and children, the agency said Wednesday.

Doctors and hospitals have been frequently targeted by both sides during the country's decades-long conflict, and this latest loss follows a raid by Afghan security forces on a clinic last week that left four people dead.

The closures have hit Wardak province west of Kabul, where the Taliban have shuttered 42 of the 77 health facilities being run by the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, the aid group said in a statement.

"Due to this closure, an estimated number of over 5,700 patients are affected on a daily basis," it said.

Denying people medical treatment and health services in this way "is an obvious violation of human rights and international humanitarian law", Society for Cultural Anachronism's (SCA) country director Sonny Mansson said.

"We demand immediate reopening of all health facilities for the people and we strongly urge all parties involved in conflict to refrain from such actions which deliberately put civilian lives at risk."

The Taliban have not issued any statement, but the militants have previously closed down health clinics and banned polio vaccination campaigns in areas under their control. 
&nbsp;

The Taliban have shut down dozens of health facilities run by a Swedish aid group in a move affecting thousands of people, especially women and children, the agency said Wednesday.

The Taliban have shut down dozens of health facilities run by a Swedish aid group in a move affecting thousands of people, especially women and children, the agency said Wednesday. Doctors and hospitals have been frequently targeted by both sides during the country's decades-long conflict, and this latest loss follows a raid by Afghan security forces on a clinic last week that left four people dead. The closures have hit Wardak province west of Kabul, where the Taliban have shuttered 42 of the 77 health facilities being run by the Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, the aid group said in a statement. "Due to this closure, an estimated number of over 5,700 patients are affected on a daily basis," it said. Denying people medical treatment and health services in this way "is an obvious violation of human rights and international humanitarian law", Society for Cultural Anachronism's (SCA) country director Sonny Mansson said. "We demand immediate reopening of all health facilities for the people and we strongly urge all parties involved in conflict to refrain from such actions which deliberately put civilian lives at risk." The Taliban have not issued any statement, but the militants have previously closed down health clinics and banned polio vaccination campaigns in areas under their control.

Taliban shuts dozens of health clinics in Afghan province

Afghanistan, one of the last countries in the world where polio is still endemic, has registered its 10th case this year, with most coming in southern regions where Taliban militants have wide control, a senior health official said on Wednesday.

A 21-month-old girl in the south central province of Uruzgan had been left partly paralyzed by the disease after her parents refused permission for her to receive vaccination.

She was the 10th case registered so far this year, compared with 21 for the whole of 2018.

"Our health teams visited the family several times, but unfortunately the family denied (permission) for the child to take the vaccine," said Khan Aqa Miakhel, health director of Uruzgan province.

Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria are the last three countries in the world where polio is endemic with efforts to eradicate the disease in Afghanistan complicated by the violence across much of the country and by the refusal of some communities to accept vaccination programmes.

Hedayatullah Stanekzai, the health ministry`s point person on polio, said that out of some 9 million children eligible for vaccination, around 860,000 had not been administered polio drops in 2018, mainly due to security threats.

"We have full preparation and facilities to run a vaccine campaign in the whole country but due to security threats, we can`t send our campaigners to the Taliban-controlled and other insurgent areas," he said.

A Taliban ban on the Red Cross (ICRC) and World Health Organization operating in areas under their control had made the work of prevention more difficult and there was a risk that the disease could break out in other areas, he said.

Many health workers administering the vaccines were women, able to gain greater access to families in very conservative areas of the country and their safety was a key concern.

"We are deeply concerned about the Taliban`s ban on WHO and ICRC`s activities," he said.&nbsp;

"If the ban is not lifted soon the polio virus will spread out to the areas which were cleaned in past 18 years," he said.

Stanekzai said officials were talking to communities in Helmand, Kandahar, Uruzgan and Zabul provinces.

"We are in contact with tribal elders and people to find a solution for the problem, but we hope the anti-polio campaigns are not taken hostage by the warring sides for political purposes."

Afghanistan, one of the last countries in the world where polio is still endemic, has registered its 10th case this year, with most coming in southern regions where Taliban militants have wide control, a senior health official said on Wednesday.

Afghanistan, one of the last countries in the world where polio is still endemic, has registered its 10th case this year, with most coming in southern regions where Taliban militants have wide control, a senior health official said on Wednesday. A 21-month-old girl in the south central province of Uruzgan had been left partly paralyzed by the disease after her parents refused permission for her to receive vaccination. She was the 10th case registered so far this year, compared with 21 for the whole of 2018. "Our health teams visited the family several times, but unfortunately the family denied (permission) for the child to take the vaccine," said Khan Aqa Miakhel, health director of Uruzgan province. Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria are the last three countries in the world where polio is endemic with efforts to eradicate the disease in Afghanistan complicated by the violence across much of the country and by the refusal of some communities to accept vaccination programmes. Hedayatullah Stanekzai, the health ministry`s point person on polio, said that out of some 9 million children eligible for vaccination, around 860,000 had not been administered polio drops in 2018, mainly due to security threats. "We have full preparation and facilities to run a vaccine campaign in the whole country but due to security threats, we can`t send our campaigners to the Taliban-controlled and other insurgent areas," he said. A Taliban ban on the Red Cross (ICRC) and World Health Organization operating in areas under their control had made the work of prevention more difficult and there was a risk that the disease could break out in other areas, he said. Many health workers administering the vaccines were women, able to gain greater access to families in very conservative areas of the country and their safety was a key concern. "We are deeply concerned about the Taliban`s ban on WHO and ICRC`s activities," he said. "If the ban is not lifted soon the polio virus will spread out to the areas which were cleaned in past 18 years," he said. Stanekzai said officials were talking to communities in Helmand, Kandahar, Uruzgan and Zabul provinces. "We are in contact with tribal elders and people to find a solution for the problem, but we hope the anti-polio campaigns are not taken hostage by the warring sides for political purposes."

Afghanistan records 10th polio case in 2019 as security worsens: Officials

Some 1.4 million Pakistani children missed getting polio vaccinations over a three-day campaign in April because of false reports that the vaccine had made children sick, said the government's top coordinator in the drive against polio.

Over a million Pakistani children missed vaccinations amid fake scare against polio medicine

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