WHO reports four new polio cases in Indonesia
WHO reports four new polio cases in Indonesia
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A week after a mass polio immunization program, Indonesia saw
four more polio cases, bringing the total number to 20, the World
Health Organization (WHO) reported on Tuesday.
An officer from the Ministry of Health confirmed the report,
explaining that the newly confirmed cases were suspected cases
that had been waiting for laboratory test results.
"One of the confirmed case is from Sukabumi and three others
are from Lebak," Ministry of Health's directorate general of
contagious disease control officer Moh. Nadhirin told The Jakarta
Post.
Nadhirin added that the ministry was still waiting for results
of nine stool samples of acute flaccid paralysis cases from
Sukabumi, 31 from Lebak and 14 from Bogor.
Triggered by findings of polio cases in March, the ministry
supported by WHO and the United Nations Children's Fund conducted
a mass polio vaccination drive in Banten, Jakarta and West Java
provinces to protect an estimated 6.4 million children late last
month.
The immunization drive has reportedly protected more than 90
percent of the targeted children under the age of five from the
waterborne disease.
There were several reports of contraindications causing fever
and diarrhea in children after being vaccinated and a committee
were conducting further investigation.
A second vaccination program is set for June 28 in the same
three provinces.
Indonesia is witnessing the current polio outbreak after
having been free of the disease for 10 years. Laboratory results
showed that the virus type found in the new outbreak matched that
of the latest outbreak in Saudi Arabia.
The viral disease known as poliomyelitis is highly infectious
and can cause total paralysis and even death. The virus enters
the body through the mouth and multiplies in the intestines,
which is why oral vaccination is preferred.
Transmission of the virus by immune and partially immune
adults and children is possible, and is likely to happen in
countries where sanitation systems are substandard.