Sharp decline in polio cases in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD (NNI): Polio cases in war-torn Afghanistan have registered sharp decline.

"There has been sharp decline in polio cases in Afghanistan. Very few polio cases have been reported from entire Afghanistan this year. We want to review the polio strategy. We want to introduce new campaign for polio immunization in Afghanistan so that it can be totally eradicated." Taliban Health Minister Mulla Abbas Akhund told the BBC.

World Health Organization, WHO has said that polio cases are still reported in Afghanistan. It said that there had been 53 polio cases in Afghanistan this year. Mulla Abbas Akhund said that polio might be fully eradicated within next few years if some new changes are brought about in door to door anti-polio campaign in Afghanistan.

Seven polio cases among the Afghan refugees have been reported in Peshawar refugee camps. However, the United Nations is hopeful that it can be totally eradicated.

United Nations said that it has vaccinated the Afghan refugees in remote tent villages against polio. It said that it would try to administer polio vaccine to every Afghan child in Pakistan.