We thought it was over. Total eradication of polio is perhaps counted as one of India’s biggest fight-backs in recent times. A recent revelation, however, of a vaccine-derived poliovirus Type 2 was found in a sewage sample collected near Secunderabad station in Hyderabad has created suspicions with the Telangana government also planning to launch a special vaccination drive from June 20.
India is stated to be polio-free as the country has eradicated wild poliovirus and the last case was seen on January 13, 2011, and it is more than 5 years that no wild poliovirus has been detected. Health authorities want to assert the same belief in us stating it is no cause for alarm.
Health Minister C Laxma Reddy told media that there is no need to panic since no case of polio was found in a radius of several kilometres from where the strain was detected. He also said that the special drive will inoculate nearly 3 lakh children in Hyderabad and neighbour Ranga Reddy district.
Last informed, nearly 2 lakhs vaccines have been airlifted from Geneva and provision is being made for another 1 lakh vaccines.
Health workers and staff will visit households and inform people about the special drive. Children between six weeks and three years are requested to get vaccinated in identified areas in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy district. The campaign will ensure all vulnerable children in high-risk areas are given protection against polio.
Vaccine-derived poliovirus or VDPVs are extremely rare and found in children with immunodeficiency, or among populations with low immunisation levels. They are strains of the virus that emerge after prolonged multiplication of weakened strains of the virus contained in Oral Polio Vaccine. Officials said the strain is usually found in children’s excreta.
According to Dr Sunil Bahl, the Regional Adviser of World Health Organisation, South East Asia regional office, this was the 14th such instance of vaccine-derived poliovirus Type 2 being found in sewage samples between January 2015 and May this year. He also that all these have been responded to urgently with polio vaccination campaigns. None of these VDPVs detected in sewage (have) infected children so far.
The Union Health ministry in a statement issued on Wednesday, said, “There have been some media reports that poliovirus (P2 strain) has resurfaced in India for the first time in five years. However, it is not true, as detected polio virus strain is vaccine-derived poliovirus in a sewage sample… No children have been found to be affected by the detected VDPV isolate in nearby areas.”
