KARACHI: Egypt has instituted a new travel requirement affecting passengers from several nations, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Malawi, Mozambique, and Congo. According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), individuals traveling to Egypt from these countries are now obliged to furnish an international polio vaccination certificate, which must specifically pertain to the polio vaccine, whether it is OPV or IPV (both types are deemed acceptable).
In recent developments, the International Health Regulations' (2005) Emergency Committee, responsible for evaluating the global spread of poliovirus, expressed reservations about Pakistan's efforts in its polio eradication campaign, particularly concerning the challenge of reaching a substantial number of children.
Adding to the concerns, Pakistan's health department reported just last week that two environmental samples, one from Pishin and another from Peshawar, have tested positive for an Afghan strain of the poliovirus.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has launched a nationwide polio eradication campaign, commencing on September 25, and it will be conducted in three distinct phases across the country. According to reliable sources, the second phase is scheduled to commence on October 2, followed by the final phase, which is set to run from October 9 to 13.
