CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Five of the six regions of the world are certified polio-free-the African Region, the Americas, Europe, South East Asia and the Western Pacific. Only two polio-endemic countries (nations that have never interrupted the transmission of wild poliovirus) remain-Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Detailed explanation-2: -Within two decades, India received ‘Polio-free certification’ from World Health Organization on the 27 March 2014, with the last polio case being reported in Howrah in West Bengal on 13 January 2011.

Detailed explanation-3: -Polio remains endemic in two countries Afghanistan and Pakistan. Until poliovirus transmission is interrupted in these countries, all countries remain at risk of importation of polio, especially vulnerable countries with weak public health and immunization services and travel or trade links to endemic countries.

Detailed explanation-4: -At present, only 2 countries worldwide remain with indigenous transmission of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) – Afghanistan and Pakistan. In Afghanistan, in 2022, the WPV1 has left 2 children paralyzed, whereas in Pakistan, 20 children have been affected this year.