Malawi child infected is first case of wild polio in more than five years in Africa – World

In Malawi, a child has been infected with wild polio virus. It is the first case in Africa in more than five years.

Africa was declared wild polio free in August 2020, after all forms of wild polio were eliminated from the region. But now the Malawian government is reporting a new case of wild polio in the capital, Lilongwe.

Laboratory analysis shows that the variant is related to a strain of the disease circulating in Pakistan, where the disease is still endemic. For the time being, the outbreak will therefore not affect Africa’s status as a polio-free region.

Paralysis

“As long as wild polio exists anywhere in the world, all countries will continue to be at risk of importing the virus,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa. “We are now taking urgent measures to prevent the possible spread. The high level of polio detection on the continent allows us to respond quickly and protect children from the debilitating impact of this disease.”

Polio is a highly contagious disease that invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis within hours. The virus is mainly transmitted from person to person through feces and sometimes also through contaminated water or food. There is no cure for it, but the disease can be prevented by a simple and effective vaccine.

Africa was declared wild polio free in August 2020, after all forms of wild polio were eliminated from the region. But now the Malawian government is reporting a new case of wild polio in the capital, Lilongwe. Laboratory analysis shows that the variant is related to a strain of the disease circulating in Pakistan, where the disease is still endemic. For the time being, the outbreak will therefore not affect Africa’s status as a polio-free region. “As long as wild polio exists anywhere in the world, all countries will continue to be at risk of importing the virus,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa. “We are now taking urgent measures to prevent the possible spread. The high level of polio detection on the continent allows us to respond quickly and protect children from the debilitating impact of this disease.” Polio is a highly contagious disease that invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis within hours. The virus is mainly transmitted from person to person through feces and sometimes also through contaminated water or food. There is no cure for it, but the disease can be prevented by a simple and effective vaccine.

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