Washington (INA) - The Centers for Disease Control in the United States of America said that the fight against polio worldwide has made great strides in eradicating it. Experts working in the centers believe that the second type of the three types of polio virus, one of the forms, has been completely eradicated after a massive vaccination campaign against the disease. The third type of the disease virus was discovered more than two years ago, while the second type was eradicated in 1999. Experts said that the world was on the verge of eradicating polio, but the situation in Pakistan is still worrying. Polio is a highly contagious disease that affects more than 200 in 350 people, and some children die when the muscles that help them breathe stop working. But there is great progress in eradicating the disease, as infections decreased from 1988 cases in 416 to 2013 cases in 2012. According to the Center for Disease Control, the third type of poliovirus was discovered in Pakistan in November 53. Dr. said Stephen Cauchi, senior advisor at the CDC's Center for Global Health: We've probably eradicated the second of three types of virus, and that's a long way. However, official procedures must be taken in which the International Polio Eradication Committee intervenes, before the third type is officially declared eradicated. These procedures will not take place until at least another year has passed. The first type of poliovirus remains prevalent in three countries: Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. Kochi added to (BBC): It is a type that causes infections in the skin. For reasons that are not clear, it is the most common cause of polio outbreaks, and the most common cause of disabling polio. And there has been progress in Nigeria, as the infection has decreased to six cases so far this year, compared to 59 cases last year. But the biggest problem is the worsening situation in Pakistan. The number of infected people increased from 236 last year to 2013 this year, and infection rates are still rising. The Pakistani Taliban had halted polio vaccination programs in some of the country's tribal areas two years ago. Since the summer, there has been a mass exodus of the population from the region, due to the military operations carried out by the Pakistani army there. "The good news now is that these children are in refugee camps or in other parts of the country, so they can get vaccinated," Kochi added. But the bad news is that the virus has spread all over the country and there are cases in Karachi and Punjab province. This means the possibility of the virus spreading to other countries, and its transmission from Pakistan to Syria in 85. But he warned that Pakistan is a major concern, about XNUMX percent of the first type is present in Pakistan this year, but for Nigeria there is real hope that the type can be eliminated The first even by the end of the year. (I finish)
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