Bihar records decline in polio cases, moves towards eradication
Patna | Friday, Feb 5 2010 IST
 

Bihar has recorded a steady decline in polio cases since 2007 and is on the verge of its eradication, thanks to greater awarness and sustained vacccination programme across the state. Bihar Health Secretary C K Mishra quoting the latest figures released by the UNESCO and World Health Organisation(WHO) here today said, while altogether 503 polio cases were reported in 2007, it came down to 233 in 2008.

Last year the number of cases of both type-one and type-three polio viruses further reduced to only 117 making Bihar as one of the least affected states in the country.

Moreover, he said, no case of the most dangerous polio virus type -one had been found since October 2009.

Mr Mishra said the new bivalent oral polio vaccine and special strategy focussing efforts on the remaining polio endemic high risk blocks were expected to further boost the eradication efforts in the state.

Further elaborating the importance of the success, the Health Secretary said the bivalent oral polio vaccine (BOPV) which protects against both type 1 and type 3 polio viruses, was introduced in polio campaigns in Bihar only in January last year.

It would rapidly boost the immunity of children against the type 3 polio while sustaining high levels of immunity against the type 1 virus which has been priortised for education due to its potential to cause huge outbreaks, he said.

-- (UNI) -- 05CA3.xml

 

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