After being alerted in December 2013 to a return of poliomyelitis in Syria due to a lack of vaccination, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a global public health emergency. “The decision to consider that the conditions were met for a state of emergency was unanimous”, declares the WHO. “If left unchecked, the situation could frustrate the global eradication of one of the most serious vaccine-preventable diseases.”
This highly contagious disease mostly affects children under the age of five, causing paralysis within hours and, in some cases, death. While the number of cases has fallen by more than 99% since 1099, three countries (Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan) have yet to eradicatedisease.
Imports in Asia, Middle East and Central Africa
Indeed, despite efforts, “poliomyelitis continues to spread internationally from endemic countries and reinfected countries”, recalls the Organization. “Between January and April, usually low polio transmission season, three new outbreaks of imported polio cases were detected: in Asia (from Pakistan to Afghanistan), in the Middle East (from Syria to Iraq) and in Central Africa (from Cameroon to Equatorial Guinea).
WHO calls on local authorities to take action by launching vaccination campaigns for people who travel. For its part, the Organization has started its own campaign, in partnership with Unicef, with the aim of vaccinating 23 million children in the Middle East against this disease.
