A Pakistani health official says a five-day anti-polio drive has been launched in the country to vaccinate millions of children under five years of age against the crippling disease. Aimal Khan, a spokesman with the anti-polio drive, says the campaign was launched on Monday amid tight security. He says a total of 23.8 million children are to be vaccinated in the campaign, which involves a total of 161,000 health workers in 109 districts. Pakistan is one of few countries where polio is still endemic, along with Afghanistan and Nigeria. Pakistan's government regularly launches anti-polio drives despite threats from the Taliban, who perceive the campaign as part of a Western conspiracy and claim it will sterilize Pakistani children.

Source: ABC News May 07, 2018 06:56 UTC