News
Polio in Yemen and Indonesia - update
On the 29 May 2005 , the Ministry of Health Yemen reported an additional 71 cases of poliomyelitis to the World Health Organization [1]. This brings the total number of cases during this outbreak to 179.
The additional cases are all from Hudaidah governorate, the same governorate as the index case. However, earlier reports of cases in other regions suggest that the polio virus has spread throughout the country.
The Ministry of Health in Yemen has launched a national polio immunisation campaign between 30 May and 2 June to ensure all children under the age of 5 years are vaccinated.
On the Indonesian island of Java , two additional cases of poliomyelitis have been reported by the WHO Polio Eradication Initiative [2]. Combined with earlier reports, this brings the total number of cases to 16.
The cases of polio in Indonesia have originated from the same village in Sukabumi district as the index case, from surrounding villages in the same district, and from villages in the neighbouring districts of Lebak and Bogor .
A polio immunisation campaign was due to begin on 31 May 2005 , and will cover the provinces of West Java , Banten and Jakarta with the goal of immunising 6.4 million children under the age of five years.
Travellers to Yemen and Indonesia as well as to other polio risk countries are reminded to ensure that their polio vaccination schedule is up to date. Travellers whose last dose of polio vaccine was more than ten years previously should receive a booster.
References
1. World Health Organization. Poliomyelitis in Yemen - update. 30 May 2005 http://www.who.int/csr/don/2005_05_30/en/index.html
2. World Health Organization Polio Eradication Initiative. Outbreak of polio in Indonesia . Updated 30 May 2005 . http://www.polioeradication.org/content/
general/Indonesiapolio30May2005.pdf
Links
World Health Organization Polio Eradication Initiative.
http://www.polioeradication.org
NaTHNaC Poliomyelitis Information Sheet
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