Vaccinators threatened with death

A polio vaccination programme in a Pakistani tribal region has been suspended after villagers threatened health workers. "We have stopped vaccination programme after tribesmen threatened workers and broke their equipment," Dr Cherag Hussain told the Reuters news agency. "They have threatened to kill health workers if they visit again."

COMMENT: Pakistan is one of four remaining polio-endemic countries, along with Nigeria, India and Afghanistan. Since there are no records, children can receive dozens of doses of oral polio and monthly vaccines are the norm. The new, high-potency, monovalent oral polio vaccine that is 5 times more potent than other vaccines, was recently administered by campaigners without telling parents that it was experimental. The result has been outbreaks of paralysis written off with the standard comment of "better reporting."

So far in 2007, there have only been 345 eported cases of polio worldwide, according to World Health Organization figures. Millions of children are dying of malnutrition and from vestiges of war. And yet, the Rotary Club and other organizations are more interested in eliminating a virus that is associated with filth than providing potable water and an education. No wonder parents and local officials are threatening to kill the invading vaccinators.