Since October
2013 seventeen cases of polio have been recorded in war-torn Syria, a country
which did not record polio for over a decade. Attempts are made to vaccinate all
children under the age of 5 years, not only in Syria (1.6 million) but also in
its neighbouring countries (estimated to be 23 million). All countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean
Region declared the escalating polio situation to be an emergency for the
entire Region. The WHO is working with
UNICEF, other UN agencies, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, international and
national NGOs, and other local and international groups providing humanitarian
assistance to Syrians affected by the conflict to ensure that all children are
vaccinated, no matter where they live. It is anticipated that outbreak response
activities will need to continue for 6 to 8 months, depending on the area and
based on the evolving epidemiology.
Image: WHO
Polio is a
highly infectious disease caused by a virus. It invades the nervous system, and
can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours. One in 200 infections can lead
to irreversible paralysis and among those paralysed, 5% to 10% die when their
breathing muscles become immobilized. In 2013, only three countries
(Afganistan, Nigeria and Pakistan) remain polio-endemic. However, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative
(GPEI) has been proven effective as an almost 40% reduction in cases in these
countries were seen compared to 2012.
Currently,
there is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented. The polio vaccine, given
multiple times, can protect a child for life.
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