Security stepped up for polio vaccination teams in Balochistan

Soon after the targeted killing, the anti-polio campaign in the area was suspended, with levies forces conducting a search operation in the area.

The health officials said that around 1,50,000 policemen are escorting around 2,60,000 health workers in the new anti-polio vaccine drive in which over 2.5 million children in the province are to be administered the anti-polio vaccine.

Polio workers have been targeted by militants in other parts of the country as well and earlier this week, the police arrested several men in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after they orchestrated a campaign to spread fear and rumours about the anti-polio vaccines causing illness among children.

On April 23, a policeman deputed with an immunisation team was also gunned down in Bannu.

Polio is endemic in only three countries in the world Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria although a relatively rare strain was also detected in Papua New Guinea at the end of last year.

Immunisation efforts have in the past been hampered by militants. They have previously alleged the immunisation campaigns are a cover for Western spies.