Polio outbreak ends
AMID the paralyzing coronavirus disease (COVID 2019) pandemic, the polio outbreak in the Philippines has officially ended, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Records show that it was in September 2019 when the outbreak of polio or “infantile paralysis,” a contagious viral disease that causes nerve injury, was declared in the country.
It is a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus, which enters the body through the mouth from hands contaminated with the stool of an infected person.
And one leg longer than the other is exceedingly common in polio survivors.
In response to the outbreak, the Department of Health (DOH) led a “unified response,” conducting a multi-pronged nationwide supplemental immunization campaign.
Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO representative to the Philippines, commended the country’s health authorities for successfully addressing the 600-day polio outbreak.
Despite the end of the outbreak, Dr. Abeyasinghe said polio, which is more common in infants and young children, remains a public health emergency of international concern.
In a virtual briefing, Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire said that as of March 31 this year, 87.3 percent of the target population has been covered by the campaign.
“This level of coverage is an outstanding accomplishment…in combatting polio. And this was duly-recognized by the WHO as stated in its June 3 letter to the health department.
Now that the government has shown its success in immunizing its children against polio, it will be up to the public to support the drive to inoculate the people against COVID-19.
Dapat lang!
