The epidemics spread at least across 10 countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East which qualifies as an "extraordinary event" that demands a coordinated international response. WHO says Pakistan, Syria and Cameroon "pose the greatest risk of further wild poliovirus exportations in 2014" for having permitted the virus to spread beyond their borders to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Equatorial Guinea respectively. Hence, it recommends the three governments require their citizens to get a current polio vaccination certificate prior to traveling abroad.
In spite of the fact that the "high transmission season begins in May and June," by April 30, 2014 the WHO has already recorded 68 cases of polio worldwide as compared to 417 for the whole of 2013. Fifty-eight out of 68 cases are in Pakistan.
Poliomyelitis is a very contagious illness caused by infection with the poliovirus which mostly strikes children under five following direct contact with "infected secretions." Increasing evidence, however, indicates that the virus does cross borders in adult carriers. It is a virus that proliferates in hot weather.
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