State rolls out anti-polio drive after outbreak scare

By KEPHER OTIENO

Siaya County

The Government has launched an aggressive anti-polio campaign with a target of reaching out to more than 20,000 children following fresh fears of the disease outbreak in Siaya.

Four suspected cases of polio have been reported since the house-to-house immunisation project began last week but a ministry official clarified the cases tested negative.

Yesterday, Nyanza Provincial Director of Public Health Jackson Kioko said medical officers were immunising children in Rarieda, Bondo and Siaya districts to prevent spread of the viral disease, which could lead to paralysis. There is no known cure for polio.

No Reason to panic

"The response is positive and we are likely to reach 95 per cent of the target. There is no reason to panic," said Kioko.

He said the campaign was an emergency response to a threat posed by the wild polio virus type 1 detected in February in Turkana District, which was genetically linked to the virus circulating in neighbouring countries.

Kioko said the ‘Stop-Polio’ campaign was undertaken following a risk analysis by the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation in conjunction with World Health Organisation and United Nations Children’s Fund, which found that 42 districts across the country were at high risk of the wild polio virus.

Health experts say there is now a real threat of circulation of the wild polio in the country because of the porous borders.

Even though, the process of moving from house-to-house was slow, Dr Kioko said, it was important because it would ensure comprehensive coverage of homes in the suspected areas.

He said he had mobilised the provincial and district medical experts to assist in immunization.

Nyanza Division of Disease and Surveillance Co-ordinator Elly Nyambok said experts were also collecting samples of blood for further lab tests.

"All the three districts have submitted samples of tests which will be further analysed and documented for urgent follow ups," said Dr Nyambok, adding that the data collected would be used to make observations.

Sudden Onset

Already, the four cases detected have been sampled and the results were negative, Kioko said.

According to the medics, acute flaccid paralysis is being used to describe a sudden onset, as might be found with polio.

"Acute flaccid paralysis is the most common sign of acute polio and it is used for surveillance during suspected cases of the disease outbreaks," Kioko explained.