Lowest Number of Polio Cases Detected in Last Six Months in Over a Decade

The Center has revealed that the number of polio cases detected in the period from January to June this year was the lowest in over a decade. Experts feel the use of bivalent polio vaccine is the main reason why there is finally some good news on the polio front.

“We were never so optimistic. The new vaccine has worked well so far as it is effective on both P1 and P3 forms compared to the oral polio vaccines (OPV) which were helping keep only P1 low but were not very effective on P3," said Dr Naveen Thacker, an expert on government's polio advisory panel.

In the period from January to June, just 24 cases of polio have been reported as compared to 151 last year. The government has been criticized for the flagging polio program as 741 cases were reported last year.

The health ministry is optimistic that the program will eventually be successful, "So far the trend shows that the virus is under check. But it is too early to celebrate as between July to August the number of cases usually shoots up as the moist weather is better suited for the polio virus,” an official said.


Source-Medindia