The two cases of polio in Maharashtra have crashed the efforts of the state to become India’s polio-free state.
The health officials on a polio-eradication drive have detected a 9-year old girl with poliovirus. The girl, Nazali Sheikh from Govandi was found to be affected by the P1 strain of the virus that is most resistant to drugs.According to sources, the Chief Minister, Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh, and the Health Minister, Dr Vimal Mundada, are meeting health officials to strengthen polio-eradication efforts. The Enterovirus Research Centre laboratory in Ahmedabad conducted the investigations. The sources reveal that the girl must have contracted the virus when she visited her hometown in Uttar Pradesh in April-May this year.
The other case that was reported earlier this year, was a two-year-old, Sakina Pathan from Majalgaon in Beed district. All municipal hospitals in Maharashtra have to carry out surveys for polio. The World Health Organisation was just about to announce Maharashtra a polio-free state, when the cases were reported.
According to officials, migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar will be targeted for immunization.
Source-Medindia
GYT
