The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that if polio re-emerges, the world will face a dangerous situation.
Following the outbreak in Malawi, a senior WHO official stated that efforts were underway to vaccinate 23 million children in five African countries.
Photo via Science
Malawi reported the first case of wild poliovirus after 30 years in February, when a three-year-old child from the Lilongwe region was paralyzed after contracting the virus.
The incident raises concerns as Africa will be declared wild polio-free by 2020, leaving only Afghanistan and Pakistan as endemic countries.
Last January, Pakistan had gone a year without a case.
Despite the fact that the outbreak only happened in one country, WHO Africa Polio Coordinator Modjirom Ndoutabe stated that other countries have also been experiencing significant challenges.
Health Minister, Khairy Jamaluddin said the message was personally informed by the WHO Representative Office to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Singapore in its official message to the Ministry of Health (KKM) on September 10th.
World Polio Day 2020
Today is World Polio Day! 5 of the 6 WHO regions – representing more 90% of the 🌎🌍🌏 population – are now free of the wild poliovirus! In 2020, after 4 years without a case, World Health Organization African Region has been certified as wild polio-free! Take a moment to learn about remarkable success against wild polio in Africa.
Posted by World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday, October 23, 2020
In 2019, Malaysia was shocked when one polio case was confirmed in Sabah after the country had been declared polio-free 30 years ago.
In case you don’t know, polio is an infectious disease that affects the neurological system and is spread by the poliovirus.
The virus has the potential to inflict lifelong irreversible paralysis as well as respiratory collapse, and even death. However, polio vaccines can protect a child for the rest of their lives if given multiple times.
This is serious! Vaccines save lives, so please get you and your loved ones the polio vaccine if you haven’t!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
