<p>The WHO today slapped international travel restrictions on Pakistan, Cameroon and Syria over the countries' failure to control the spread of the deadly polio virus, just a month after India did the same.<br /><br /></p>.<p>According to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) restrictions, it will be mandatory for all residents and long-term visitors (over 4 weeks) from Pakistan, Cameroon and Syria to receive a dose of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) or Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV) between 4 weeks and 12 months prior to international travel.<br /><br />Recommendations for the travel restrictions were put forward by a 21-member International Health Regulations Emergency Committee which was formed on the directives of WHO board members on Geneva.<br /><br />The WHO Director-General accepted the committee's assessment and declared the international spread of wild polio virus in 2014 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), a statement by the global health watchdog said.<br /><br />"This has primarily been done to stop the spread of the deadly virus. And of the situation does improve when a review comes up, the restrictions will be withdrawn too," WHO National Campaign Coordinator in Pakistan Zubair Mufti told PTI.<br /><br />The new WHO regulations call upon these countries to ensure that those undertaking urgent travel within 4 weeks, who have not received a dose of OPV or IPV in the previous four weeks to 12 months, receive a dose of polio vaccine at least by the time of departure as this will still be beneficial, particularly for frequent travellers.<br /><br />It also calls on them to maintain these measures until at least 6 months have passed without new exportations.<br /><br />As per the WHO, the countries affected by polio are Afghanistan, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Israel, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Syria.<br /><br />However, it added that Pakistan, Cameroon and Syria pose the greatest risk of further wild poliovirus exportations in 2014 and hence the restrictions.<br /><br />India has already imposed travel restrictions on those travelling from Pakistan. Effective from March 15, all Pakistanis visiting India will have to submit along with their visa applications a certificate of vaccination against the polio virus.</p>
<p>The WHO today slapped international travel restrictions on Pakistan, Cameroon and Syria over the countries' failure to control the spread of the deadly polio virus, just a month after India did the same.<br /><br /></p>.<p>According to the World Health Organisation's (WHO) restrictions, it will be mandatory for all residents and long-term visitors (over 4 weeks) from Pakistan, Cameroon and Syria to receive a dose of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) or Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV) between 4 weeks and 12 months prior to international travel.<br /><br />Recommendations for the travel restrictions were put forward by a 21-member International Health Regulations Emergency Committee which was formed on the directives of WHO board members on Geneva.<br /><br />The WHO Director-General accepted the committee's assessment and declared the international spread of wild polio virus in 2014 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), a statement by the global health watchdog said.<br /><br />"This has primarily been done to stop the spread of the deadly virus. And of the situation does improve when a review comes up, the restrictions will be withdrawn too," WHO National Campaign Coordinator in Pakistan Zubair Mufti told PTI.<br /><br />The new WHO regulations call upon these countries to ensure that those undertaking urgent travel within 4 weeks, who have not received a dose of OPV or IPV in the previous four weeks to 12 months, receive a dose of polio vaccine at least by the time of departure as this will still be beneficial, particularly for frequent travellers.<br /><br />It also calls on them to maintain these measures until at least 6 months have passed without new exportations.<br /><br />As per the WHO, the countries affected by polio are Afghanistan, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Israel, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Syria.<br /><br />However, it added that Pakistan, Cameroon and Syria pose the greatest risk of further wild poliovirus exportations in 2014 and hence the restrictions.<br /><br />India has already imposed travel restrictions on those travelling from Pakistan. Effective from March 15, all Pakistanis visiting India will have to submit along with their visa applications a certificate of vaccination against the polio virus.</p>