While many countries in the world have been declared polio-free, Afghanistan's status, according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, is still 'ongoing'. Pakistan, too, has failed to control cases of polio. The United Nations (UN) announced Monday that the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan has stopped polio vaccination campaigns in the country, leading to what international media is calling a 'devastating setback' for the eradication of polio, which is a highly infectious and debilitating disease caused by the poliovirus.
It can lead to severe consequences, such as permanent paralysis, disability, and even death. Poliomyelitis usually spreads through fecal-oral transmission (contaminated food, water, or direct contact with infected feces), or person-to-person transmission (coughing, sneezing, or close contact with an infected person). Many countries in the world have been declared polio-free by means of extensive vaccination drives.
But Afghanistan's status -- according to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative -- remains as 'ongoing'. According to news reports, Afghanistan, unfortunately, is only one of the two countries wherein the spread of the fatal disease has never been stopped; the other country being Pakistan. It is a matter of concern for the children in the countries, as their well-being in the formative years can dictate their adulthood, and stopping important health campaigns such as polio can be dangerously counter-productive and regressive.
The UN believes .