- The world has been trying to eradicate polio globally for years now, but has been unable to achieve it within its deadline of first 2000, then 2010 and now, 2013.
- WHO then formulated Polio Eradication & Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018 and set the goal of ending transmission of all naturally-occurring ‘wild’ polio viruses by the end of this year.
- While in 2012, the situation was hopeful with India being declared polio free and then being removed from the list of endemic countries, worldwide polio count also hit the lowest.
- But with the sudden emergence of the virus in Pakistan and Nigeria, the efforts seem to have suffered a major setback again, and according to the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative stands at extreme risk.
- This also puts at risk other countries who have managed to eradicate polio overall.
- Over80% more polio cases were recorded in 2013 compared to the previous year. Every additional polio case results in loss of money and lives, decreases morale, risks future donations and hinders public health gain.
- In Pakistan, a polio-endemic country, the Board has recommended setting up of an Emergency Operations Centre to increase the country’s responsiveness to polio cases.
- With the increasing number of cases being reported, it may well continue to be a polio-endemic country even after all other countries have been cleared of the virus.
- While Nigeria had come close to eradication earlier, it then lost its momentum. In the last 18 months, the viral circulation had been at its lowest.
- Read at: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-sci-tech-and-agri/will-global-polio-eradication-miss-yet-another-deadline/article6106065.ece
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