Pakistan polio case despite truce

Pakistani health officials say they have recorded a new case of polio in Swat district despite local militants pledging not to resist vaccinations.

A seven-year-old girl tested positive for polio, taking the number of new cases in Pakistan this year to 16.

Officials say Tanzeela Bibi had not received any vaccination due to the ongoing military operations and early opposition from the Taleban.

Pakistan is one of the few countries where polio still exists.

A fourth of the new polio cases in Pakistan this year are from the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), where Swat is located.

Security

Militant leaders in Swat have campaigned against polio vaccinations since 2006.

In May, they promised not to hamper the vaccination drive.

They made the pledge at the same time as agreeing a peace deal with the government.

Health officials in Swat alleged that local authorities had failed to assist them in the vaccination drive despite the peace deal. They said the security situation in the district was responsible for the situation.

In the past, vaccination teams have been beaten up or kidnapped in some of these areas.

The NWFP health department hopes to vaccinate 427,000 children during the current campaign.

Polio has been eradicated from most of the developed world, but new cases are still being reported from Pakistan, Nigeria, Afghanistan and India.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
North West Frontier Province
World Health Organization
Global Polio Eradication Initiative
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