Polio is an international emergency

The spread of polio should continue to be classified as a public health emergency because, despite progress made in the eradication of the disease, progress remains fragile, announced Friday the World Health Organization ( WHO).

"We are on the verge of eradicating polio, but we must use all our international tools to this end," said Helen Rees, head of the WHO International Emergency Committee, to reporters. in a phone call.

"The current situation still requires the application of a public health emergency that calls for international attention." The latest figures from the WHO show 27 cases of wild poliovirus in 2018, all in Pakistan and Afghanistan, two countries long infected.

Rice said the organization was "very worried" that the number was higher than last year and urged governments not to let anything appear in the fight to eradicate the contagious disease. the origin of paralysis.

"The completion of this mission remains absolutely urgent," she said.

The statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) released Friday also expressed concern over the spread of the disease in countries after a 10-month period between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which have has been the scene of cross-border movements.

However, the WHO emergency committee noted that four years had passed without international spread of the polio virus outside the two neighboring countries.

The number of cases in Afghanistan this year has almost doubled compared to last year, reaching 19 cases so far, compared with 10 cases at the same time last year.

In Pakistan, WHO said the disease was stable and that eight cases were reported this year, the same number as last year.