World Polio Day: Nepal also vulnerable to infection

Various programs were organized to observe World Polio Day on Thursday.

In his video message on this occasion, Minister for Health and Population, Pradeep Paudel, has urged one and all to contribute to the global campaign to eradicate poliomyelitis (polio).

Through the message, he has called on all parents/guardians to ensure a full-course of polio vaccination for their children within a year of the birth, supporting make the campaign successful.

Expressing his concerns over the detection of sporadic cases of polio in the country, the minister said this suggests the polio risk in the country.  He added that some countries in the world have also reported the presence of poliovirus, highlighting its global risk. He insisted on its eradication across from the world.

The poliovirus is spread person-to-person through a fecal-oral route and by the consumption of polluted food and water.

The oral polio vaccine is administered to a child at six, 10 and14 weeks and the inactivated polio vaccine is given twice: at 14 weeks and nine months.

Chief of Child Health and Immunization Section, Department of Health Services, Dr Abhiyan Gautam, said though people of all age groups may get polio, it mainly affects children under five.

This devastating disease is highly contagious and its symptoms include fever, diarrhea, vomiting, body ache and fatigue and the severity can lead to irreversible paralysis and even death.

It can be prevented through vaccination and the maintenance of personal hygiene; intake of purified water and hygienic food are recommended for minimizing its risk.

It may be  noted that with the detection of poliovirus in sewage samples collected from Teku, the confluence of Tukucha and Bagamti rivers last July, the government had launched a special polio vaccination drive, targeting children under five in the three districts of Kathmandu  Valley.