Pakistan's polio eradication program facing challenges after increase in cases last year

IRIN examines several factors that could be contributing to an increase in polio cases in Pakistan, "despite the launch of a National Emergency Action Plan for Polio Eradication" at the beginning of 2011. In 2010, Pakistan recorded 144 cases of polio and 192 cases in 2011, the news service reports. According to IRIN, refusals by some households to vaccinate children; "administrative laxity" and "poorly run campaigns"; and malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, and diarrhea among children could be contributing to the campaign's lack of success (1/23).