A Syrian official has put the blame on foreign fighters from Pakistan for the polio outbreak in their country, said a report on Sunday.
Kindah al-Shammat, the Minister of Social Affairs, told The Associated Press that jihadists, the foreign fighters from Pakistan brought the crippling virus in their country.
The minister said, "The virus originates in Pakistan and has been brought to Syria by the jihadists who come from Pakistan." However, she has no hard proof and failed to detail the claim.
Last week, 10 confirmed polio cases in northeast Syria were noted by the United Nations health agency. The incident is the succeeding outbreak of polio in Syria after the last one 14 years ago and it threatens to spread in entire region.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said that confirmed cases are among those "under-immunized" infants and toddlers under two years of age. The organization is still waiting for the lab results on another 12 patients who are displaying polio symptoms.
The Syrian government, to "protect all children in Syria" has commenced an immunization campaign, however, the minister did not say how and up to where it will happen or if it will reach the borders of Turkey.
Two and a half years ago before the war took place, almost all the children in Syria has been immunized against polio.
Polio is a highly contagious disease. It usually affects children in unhealthy environments and conditions through taking in foods and drinks which are stained with feces.
The poliovirus targets nerves that can sometimes make the patient paralyzed or worst, dead. It can spread broadly without being noticed before infecting children.
Last Sunday, the head of the Syrian National Coalition also called on aid and medical supplies to be allowed into blocked parts of the besieged region, especially to the areas where the disease is spreading. The leader said that it would create a good effect among Syria's warring parties.
