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Polio team attacked in Pakistan

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Press Trust of India Karachi
Another anti-polio vaccine team was attacked in Pakistan's biggest city today after some persons opened fire on vaccinators in Baldia town.

The team was attacked in sector 8 of Baldia town, police said but they were no injuries or casualties.

"Some persons opened fire on the team as it entered sector 8 but the police guards with them resisted the attack," one police official said.

"We have arrested four persons in connection with the attack including a woman," SSP Asif Sheikh said.

On April 10, a police guard with an anti-polio vaccine team was shot dead in Mardan in Pakistan's northwestern frontier province but the workers escaped unhurt.
 

Health authorities have reported that there was around 35 polio cases in Pakistan last year.

Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan are the only three countries in the world where polio is still endemic.

In December, four workers of an anti-polio vaccine team, including three women, were shot dead in Landhi, Orangi Town and Mochki areas of Karachi which are Pushtun dominated.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban and other militant groups have in the past expressed concerns over the anti-polio vaccine drive and claim it is an American ploy to sterilise children in Pakistan.

Around 24,000 children have missed their polio drops this year mainly in the northwestern and tribal areas of the country.

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First Published: Apr 16 2013 | 7:45 PM IST

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