Indian authorities alert at Munabao rly stn as 2 new polio cases in Pak surface

JAISALMER: The suspension of polio immunization programme in Pakistan after their health personnel were attacked has brought new worries for India. Reason: The Thar Express that travels between the two countries can be a potent carrier of the virus. According to Pakistan’s National Institute of Health two new cases of polio came to light on last Thursday, taking the number of patients to 17 this year.
The Indian authorities are leaving no stone unturned to curb the menace by giving polio drops to passengers coming from Pakistan at the Munabao railway station in Barmer district.
Fanatics in Pakistan have been against the polio immunization programme for some time now. There have been reports of health officials being attacked in Pakistan. As a result, the number of cases there are on the rise.
A team of Gadra Health Centre on Saturday administered polio drops to passengers coming from Pakistan at Munabao railway station. Barmer CMHO Dr Kamlesh Choudhury said India has been declared polio-free. He added, “With new cases reported in Pakistan, a strict vigil is being maintained at Munabao railway station. It has been made necessary for the passengers coming by Thar Express to India to take polio drops. Special campaign of Pulse Polio has been launched at the station.”
He added that many steps have been taken as preventive measures looking at the possibility of polio spreading in India. As per WHO guidelines, ministry of health and family welfare has made it compulsory to administer polio drops to children and adults coming from Pakistan at international airport, airport, bus stands and railway stations in Rajasthan. A check post has been made at Munabao and two medical teams have been deployed to give polio drops to passengers .